Domaine du Chat Blanc, Ventoux: from London to Saint-Didier, an organic Provençal dream

The Domaine du Chat Blanc is a family wine estate located in Saint-Didier (Vaucluse), at the foot of Mont Ventoux, farmed organically by the Chatal family. Across 5 hectares of Grenache and Syrah under the AOC Ventoux appellation, they produce reds and a rosé that express the character of an exceptional terroir, certified Vignobles & Découvertes, with guided tastings and summer concert dinners. Available direct from the cellar on Avenue des Vins.

Available directly from the estate on Avenue des Vins.

How would you describe Domaine du Chat Blanc?

An 18th-century farmhouse, 5 hectares of Grenache and a cat named Bonbon

Behind the name "Domaine du Chat Blanc" stands the Chatal family, and their cat Bonbon, who inspired the estate's name and appears on every label. The story begins in London, where the family lived for fourteen years following a professional relocation. The British capital won them over, but with time, France began to call them back, and above all, the family admits, its good food and good wine.

Their return took shape with the purchase of an 18th-century farmhouse, nearly in ruins, in Saint-Didier in the heart of the Comtat Venaissin. Three years of renovation with local craftsmen later, the old mas had found its soul again. Around it, 5 hectares of Grenache and Syrah, already farmed organically for ten years at the time of purchase, became the beating heart of the estate.

We had always dreamed of running a small vineyard in Provence. That dream became a reality.

When did you catch the wine bug?

A passion born at the table, built across the wine regions of France

In the Chatal family, a good bottle has always had its place at the table during celebrations. That taste, passed on naturally, grew with them and turned into an active curiosity: travelling through wine regions, understanding terroirs, asking winemakers about their choices, their soils, their methods. It was those encounters, and the cultural richness they carry, that ultimately led the family to take the leap.

It was these encounters and this cultural richness that gave us a love of wine and the desire, in turn, to become craftsmen of the land.

Not a calculation, not a planned career change. A conviction built glass by glass, journey by journey, until the Provençal dream became stronger than everything else.

What philosophy guides your work in the vineyard and the cellar?

The Mistral as an ally, chemistry as the enemy

Between Mont Ventoux and the Monts du Vaucluse, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Chat Blanc vines benefit from a singular microclimate: abundant sunshine, dry air swept by the Mistral, and a natural freshness that preserves the elegance of the wines. The family decided to work this exceptional terroir by disturbing it as little as possible.

Our work is entirely guided by respect for nature, biodiversity and terroir.

In practice: no herbicides, mechanical soil work, exclusively organic fertilisation. Harvests are done by hand, very early in the morning to prevent oxidation. In the cellar, additives are kept to an absolute minimum, and sulphur, the only concession, is limited to just 20% of the threshold permitted in organic farming. A rare commitment that goes well beyond simple certification.

What is your most memorable moment at the estate?

2018: the first vintage, a medal and a label drawn by hand

The first bottling remains their strongest memory. The 2018 vintage, from old Grenache and Syrah vines, sold out so fast that customers came pleading with the family to release a few bottles originally set aside for ageing. A moment the family describes as one of rare intensity, "almost like giving birth".

It was a moment of rare intensity, almost like giving birth!

The recognition came in the form of a silver medal at the Paris Wine Cup Competition, a contest that rewards both wine quality and packaging. The label had been drawn by Catherine herself. A double source of pride for the family, and proof that every detail, right down to the bottle's dress, is part of the project.

Which wine best represents your estate, and what would you pair it with?

All of them, and a Christmas ritual that says everything about their relationship with time

Choosing one emblematic wine? The family flatly refuses. "All of them! It is absolutely impossible for us to choose." A way of saying that no bottle is treated as secondary, from the fruity, generous Bien Nez, a Grenache red with aromas of cherry and blackcurrant, perfect with a charcuterie board or herb-roasted chicken, to the Cuvée Première, from vines over 60 years old, more structured, with its notes of dark fruit and spice, built for red meats, lamb or a truffle-scented sauce dish.

It is always an amazing and fascinating experience to measure the influence of the climate on our terroir, which shapes and gives a unique identity to each of our vintages.

The family's favourite tasting ritual is more intimate still: every Christmas, a vertical of all Cuvée Première vintages since 2018. The chance to measure, glass by glass, how the Mistral, the heat and the rainfall of each year leave their mark in the wine.

What are your plans and ambitions for the coming years?

Passing on the estate, deepening the organic approach, making wine a cultural experience

The Chatal family's roadmap holds no surprises: deepen their organic approach, ensure the family transmission of the estate, and continue developing the events that make Chat Blanc as much a place to live as a vineyard. The summer concert dinners, where guests eat, drink and listen to music under the Vaucluse sky, are the most direct expression of that vision.

In the years ahead, the family also plans to offer charming accommodation within the estate, to extend the experience beyond the tasting and share their passion for Provençal terroir beyond the bottle.

Discover the wines of Domaine du Chat Blanc directly from the estate, at the estate price, in a short supply chain on Avenue des Vins.

Frequently asked questions about Domaine du Chat Blanc

Where is Domaine du Chat Blanc located ?

The estate is situated in Saint-Didier (Vaucluse), in the heart of the Comtat Venaissin, between Mont Ventoux and the Monts du Vaucluse, a site designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Which appellation does Domaine du Chat Blanc produce ?

The estate produces wines under the AOC Ventoux appellation (Bien Nez and Cuvée Première reds) and the IGP Méditerranée (Nouveau Nez rosé), all certified Organic Agriculture.

Which grape varieties are grown at Domaine du Chat Blanc ?

The estate grows Grenache and Syrah across 5 hectares. The Cuvée Première comes from vines over 60 years old. The Bien Nez is made predominantly from younger Grenache vines.

What food pairings work with Domaine du Chat Blanc wines ?

Bien Nez pairs well with charcuterie, Provençal grilled vegetables or herb-roasted chicken (serve at 14°C). The Cuvée Première, more structured, suits red meats, lamb, duck or truffle-based sauce dishes (serve between 15 and 17°C). The Nouveau Nez rosé is ideal as an aperitif.

Can you visit Domaine du Chat Blanc ?

Yes, the estate holds the Vignobles & Découvertes label and offers vineyard tours, guided tastings and, in summer, concert dinners combining food, wine and live music under the Vaucluse sky.

Why buy Domaine du Chat Blanc wines on Avenue des Vins ?

On Avenue des Vins, Domaine du Chat Blanc wines are available direct from the producer, shipped straight from the Chatal family's cellar in Saint-Didier: full vintage traceability, freshness guaranteed on arrival and fair pricing with no middlemen.