Château Simone, Palette’s fine wine from Provence

Château Simone is one of the most renowned estates in Provence, situated within the tiny Palette appellation. It is the result of a union between the vines on an exceptional terroir and a line of winegrowers, the Rougier family, dating back to 1830. Today, Jean-François Rougier runs the estate, upholding the family tradition. Located in Meyrieuil (4 km from Aix-en-Provence), Château Simone enjoys exceptional biodiversity.

Palette appellation in Provence

The ‘Palette’ Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée is situated in the heart of Provence, just a few kilometres east of Aix-en-Provence. The vineyard covers around fifty hectares of strictly defined plots on scree soils derived from Langesse limestone. It is mainly spread across hillsides facing the famous Sainte Victoire mountain and benefits from a unique microclimate. The appellation covers white, red and rosé wines. The main grape varieties are: Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc for the whites, and Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault for the reds and rosés. Harvesting is carried out by hand and vinification must take place within the defined area. The classification as AOC Palette by the decree of 28 April 1948 follows on from the INAO’s recognition of the ‘Château Simone’ AOC, obtained by Jean ROUGIER on 21 July 1946.

The terroir of Château Simone

Situated on the northern slopes of the Montaiguet massif, the Château Simone vineyard lies in a cirque sheltered from the wind, through which the River Arc flows, thus benefiting from a distinctive microclimate. The forest environment, the moisture provided by the river and its lush vegetation, as well as the orientation and the reduction in wind strength, create a unique biodiversity. The soil consists mainly of limestone scree formed in lakes during the Tertiary period, combined with clay, pebbles and gravel.

A patchwork of plots

The Château Simone vineyard forms a mosaic of plots set amidst wooded countryside. Replanted by the Rougier family following the phylloxera crisis, it boasts an exceptionally high average age. For example, some plots are over 125 years old! Missing vines are rigorously replaced. A very wide variety of grape varieties is represented here. Pruned in the goblet style and trained on stakes, the vineyard is cultivated using traditional soil management methods without herbicides or chemical fertilisers.

The winemaking process

The grapes are harvested by hand and undergo an initial sorting. They are transported to the winery in small 40-kg crates. A second sorting takes place before crushing; fermentation is carried out using classic, traditional methods with indigenous yeasts. In short, Château Simone spares no effort to preserve the integrity of the grapes’ structure.

A few photos of the Palette Château Simone