Grower Spotlight: Domaine Vendome (Northern Rhone)

The vineyards at Vendôme are over fifty years old, but the first vintage here was 2020 with organic certification following a year later. Prior to this the grapes were sent down the road to the co-operative, Caves de Tain. The catalyst for the change was Romain Roudier taking over his family’s farm and realising the quality of the terroir at his disposal. Suddenly the grapes on the farm started to become more important than the apricots and peaches planted in the adjacent orchards.

Since that first vintage, Romain – and his wife Céline, whom he met when she came to pick apricots as a student – have seen Vendôme quickly become one of the most exciting growers in Crozes-Hermitage. The wines are very focused and pure with intense fruit; nothing is over-worked or forced. With the possible exception of the Cornas, which needs time in the cellar to fully open, these are reds that will drink well now and for the next five to seven years.

All the wines in this section are offered at 6% off unmixed sizes and 12% off unmixed dozens - or check out the Vendome mixed case to try a selection of the range.