Ever since the Phoceans first introduced the grapevine to Marseille 2,600 years ago, Provençe has been synonymous with wine-making. Today, it’s France’s oldest wine region, responsible for fantastic reds, whites and, of course, its famous rosés (they make up about half of the wines it produces), which thrive in the area’s balmy sunshine, Mediterranean climes and coastal breeze. Over time, Provençe has become known for its distinctive, pale pink, blushing wines, which are delicately fruity and dry in taste. And as rosé’s popularity among critics and the public continues to flourish, more of us are seeking out premium Provençal winemakers. 

Among them is Château de Berne, an historic vineyard nestled in acres of woodland and olive groves in the Haut-Pays terroir of Côtes-de-Provence. Sat on the junction of the Via Aurelia – a Roman road which has been used for wine trade throughout history – its connections with winemaking spans centuries, though today it has evolved into a 1,700-acre organic vineyard also home to villas, a five-star hotel, a spa and restaurants. Its grapes are grown across 370 acres of chalky hills and valleys, a unique environment in which delicate whites and rosés and well-structured reds thrive. The majority of its vines, around eighty per cent, are planted at an altitude of 300 metres, where the cool nights and wide-ranging daytime temperatures allow the grapes to mature at a slower pace and develop their freshness. The limestone, too, allows the vines to draw water from deep within the soil and give the grapes their distinctive minerality. The remaining twenty per cent grow around the chateau on light, sandy soils, producing rich, flavourful wines.

Château de Berne’s special environment means its wines are a true reflection of their landscape (their distinctive square bottles are even inspired by the two square towers at the entrance of the estate, which date back to the eighteenth century). At the estate, the wine is overseen and nurtured by oenologist Alexis Cornu, one of the most highly-decorated in the region (he's had several wins at the prestigious Mondial du Rosé and Concours des Vins de Provence competitions, among many others). Alexis has enhanced its new rosé vintage by fermenting a small portion of the blend in wooden casks and ageing it for several months, a process which involved reconsidering the plots used for the blend, and introducing a longer maceration period (when the grape juices are in contact with the skins). It’s an example of the care behind its wines, which include its Terres De Berne estate wines, one of which is a rosé made from a blend of Grenache Noir, Cinsault and Rolle grapes, as well as its flagship Grand Cuvée wines; there’s the elegant rosé, complex white and full, fruity red, all premium wines which blend luxury and accessibility.

Although Château de Berne is rooted in winemaking, that’s not all it has to offer – its goal is to be the number one premium Provençe experience. It does that through its five-star Relais & Châteaux hotel, private chateau, villas and spa, created for those who want to escape into the peace of Provençe for a few days, as well as fine dining experiences for food-lovers. Its restaurant Le Jardin De Berne boasts both a Michelin Star and Green Star, its head chef Louis Rameau dotting the menus with vegetables, herbs and flowers from its garden, wine and olive oil from the estate and local produce from suppliers down the road. There’s also the Bib Gourmand-winning Le Bistrot – set in Château de Berne’s tasting room – Les Tables du Chef (a chef’s table experience, perched in front of the kitchen), terrace restaurant L’Olivier de Berne, bars and even a cookery school. All, of course, make use of the beautiful wines and produce on the doorstep.

At its core, Château de Berne is a premium winemaker which creates wines that reflect its unique Provençe environment, blending centuries of experience with innovation and modernity. But although that underpins everything it does, Château de Berne has become much more than just a vineyard – today, it is an oasis of calm and a retreat for food and wine-lovers, which aims to celebrate the best of Provençe.