DOMAINE CHAUME ARNAUD

Domaine Chaume-Arnaud is a family-run biodynamic wine estate located in the Southern Rhône Valley of France, in the elevated village of Vinsobres in the Drôme region. Founded in 1987 when Valérie Chaume-Arnaud took over her family’s vineyards, the domaine has since become a benchmark for authentic, terroir-driven Rhône wines. The estate farms around 38 hectares of vines planted on limestone and clay soils at approximately 400 meters altitude. From early on, Valérie and her husband Philippe embraced sustainable viticulture, achieving organic certification in the early 2000s and full Demeter biodynamic certification in 2009.

Farming and winemaking at Domaine Chaume-Arnaud are guided by a deep respect for nature and a desire to let the terroir speak clearly. All grapes are hand-harvested, and vinification is carried out with minimal intervention. Fermentations and ageing typically occur in tanks or concrete vats, with little to no new oak used, ensuring that purity and freshness take center stage in the finished wines. This approach yields wines that are elegant, balanced, and expressive of their origins rather than masked by winemaking techniques.

The estate produces a range of wines, most notably from the Vinsobres and Côtes du Rhône appellations. The red wines are generally based on Grenache, blended with Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and occasionally Carignan. The Côtes du Rhône Rouge is medium-bodied and vibrant, with bright red fruit, subtle spice, and notes of Provençal herbs, while the Vinsobres bottlings are more structured and concentrated, reflecting the stony, high-altitude vineyards from which they come. Domaine Chaume-Arnaud also crafts elegant white wines from Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier, marked by floral aromas, fresh fruit, and lively acidity.

Overall, the wines of Domaine Chaume-Arnaud are celebrated for their purity, finesse, and sense of place. Through thoughtful farming and restrained winemaking, the estate captures the natural energy and complexity of the Southern Rhône’s terroir, producing wines that are both soulful and remarkably consistent in quality.