DOMAINE AUGUSTE CLAPE

Domaine Auguste Clape, located in the Cornas appellation of France’s northern Rhône Valley, is widely regarded as one of the region’s most iconic producers of Syrah. Although the Clape family’s viticultural roots in the area stretch back over 250 years, the estate’s modern legacy began in 1949 when Auguste Clape married into a vineyard-owning family. By the 1950s, Clape became one of the first in Cornas to bottle his own wine—an innovative move that played a pivotal role in elevating the reputation of Cornas as a serious wine-producing region.

The domaine encompasses about 8.5 hectares of steep, granite-terraced vineyards. These challenging plots demand manual labor and reflect the family’s ongoing commitment to traditional viticulture. The vineyards are planted almost exclusively with Syrah, producing wines that are celebrated for their depth, structure, and strong expression of the unique Cornas terroir. Winemaking at Clape follows a minimalist philosophy, including whole-cluster fermentation and aging in large, neutral foudres, allowing the purity of the fruit and terroir to shine through.

The estate’s flagship wine, Cornas, is a blend of several parcels and is known for its aging potential and power. In 1998, the Cornas ‘Renaissance’ cuvée was introduced, made from younger vines and offering a more approachable style in its youth while retaining the estate’s hallmark character. Additional wines include a Syrah-based Côtes du Rhône, Le Vin des Amis—an easy-drinking, youthful Syrah—and a rare Saint-Péray Blanc, made from Marsanne and Roussanne, which demonstrates the domaine’s versatility beyond red wines.

After the death of Auguste Clape in 2018 at the age of 93, the domaine passed into the capable hands of his son, Pierre-Marie, and grandson, Olivier. They continue to preserve the traditions and quality standards that have made Clape a reference point not only for Cornas but for Northern Rhône Syrah as a whole.