“I liked the wines that came from the slopes, I found those from the plains very average”. These words of Georges Vernay sum up his contribution to Condrieu. Thanks to Georges, the abandoned, steep slopes here were given new life in the 1960s. In fact, this determined man had the genius intuition to cultivate vines on the “chaillées”, or terraces, aptly known as the “chaillées de l'enfer” (terraces from hell)! The history of this property goes back to 1938 when Francis Vernay planted his first hectare of Viognier. Georges Vernay joined in 1943 and expanded the estate by buying some parcels. He opened a tasting room that earned him a loyal English customer base. From 1943 to 2010, the estate went from 1 to 24 hectares, 17 of which are located on steep slopes. The vines are spread across three appellations: Condrieu (10ha), Côte-Rôtie (6ha) and Saint-Joseph (2ha), with 2 IGP wine made from Syrah and Viognier (6ha). Since his death in 2017, it has been his daughter Christine who has kept the family tradition alive alongside her daughter, Emma.

The Saint-Joseph Terres d’Encre comes from vines about thirty years old, planted at 7,000 vine stocks per hectare in the commune of Chavannay. Thus, the vineyard benefits from optimal exposure, as well as the freshness provided by the altitude. The steep slope means the estate can use only a tracked vehicle to carry out work there, and when mechanical work is impossible, they use a pickaxe or a winch to continue their work. The grape harvest is done by hand, and the grapes are completely destemmed for their vinification in stainless steel vats, with light pumpovers and punchings down. It is then aged for about a year in barrels that are not new.
Its spiced and mineral character makes it a superb wine for pairing with food. It is recommended to taste this Saint-Joseph with a nice piece of meat, a roasted beef fillet, a duck breast or a dish of wild mushrooms.