Chateau d’Esclans

Château d’esclans harvesting takes place from sunrise to noon to avoid the heat of the day. During the harvest, grapes that are selected and picked are put in small (10 kilo) crates which are deliberately that size in order to prevent grapes placed at the bottom of the crates from getting crushed. Caves d’esclans Whispering Angel grapes are handpicked and mechanically harvested.

The grapes are then sent through the heat exchange system which reduce their temperature from what can be as high as 29 degrees c down to 7-8 degrees c followed by a soft press which produces 3 grades of what is primarily free run juice.

Laboratory testing and analysis is conducted throughout the vinification process.

Once the grapes arrive to the cellars, they are sorted manually and then go through optical sorting. All grapes which go into vinification are perfectly de-stemmed and resemble each of the correct physical characteristics dictated by the wine maker including shape, size, color and general condition. This is verified by an optical eye which is programmed to detect whether grapes ‘make the grade’.

Once the grapes arrive to the cellars, they are sorted manually and then go through optical sorting. All grapes which go into vinification are perfectly de-stemmed and resemble each of the correct physical characteristics dictated by the wine maker including shape, size, color and general condition. This is verified by an optical eye which is programmed to detect whether grapes ‘make the grade’.

Both Sacha Lichine and Patrick Leon oversee the blending for Chateau d’esclans and Caves d’esclans – Whispering Angel wines.

Bottling and packing take place at Caves d’esclans.