This week, we sit down with Laurent Gomez from Domaine du Val des Rois, a winery whose name translates to “Valley of the King,” paying tribute to Valréas’ rich winemaking history, first planted in the 9th century by King Charlemagne.

Val des Rois is a 10-hectare estate in Côtes du Rhône, originally planted in 1965 by 9th-generation Burgundian winemaker Romain Bouchard. Located on the northern edge of the Southern Rhône in Valréas, the vineyard benefits from its unique altitude and southeast exposure, cooling nightly air from the Alps, and soils rich in limestone and deep clay. These natural conditions lead to wines with exceptionally high acidity, setting them apart from the typical Southern Rhône profile.

At the hands of legendary winemaker Stéphane Vedeau, Val des Rois produces truly distinctive wines. We had the pleasure of tasting:

  • A White Blend,
  • An 80-year-old vine Grenache,
  • A Grenache/Syrah blend,

All wines are aged in concrete, giving them purity, vibrancy, and a true homage to their varietals.

A big thanks to Bella Pearson from Vine Connections for introducing us to this incredible producer.

Val des Rois
Vine Connections

Podcast (twm): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:56 — 39.1MB)

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