A small river, the Lône, runs by the vineyard. "When we were thinking what to call the estate, we quickly came up with the idea of playing on the river’s name by adding an “a”. Alône - meaning without others and also unique" - is a perfect illustration of our approach. Alône, a nod to Christian's great-grandfather who, by himself and as a complete unknown, set up his vineyard in Southern France in 1896. Alône is like Pascale and Christian who, 124 years later, are rewriting this story on another terroir. Alône, like this estate, located in the middle of a cirque, surrounded by the Coteaux Varois, in an incredible natural biotope. Rooted in the sand.

              The presence of a beautiful centuries-old oak tree in such sandy soil promised the unrivaled quality of this terroir. As a passionate and determined winegrower with 25 years of experience, Christian wants to create unique wines with their own identity, that thrive in an exceptional terroir.

"At the Alône vineyard, we are now in charge of our own destiny. We are free to ensure that our wines are the result of winegrowing techniques that respect nature".

               "Tending a vineyard on such an atypical site means that he has to push the boundaries and be even more open to what the vines and nature are telling him! ".

One of the major assets of this estate is its soil. Rich in sand, it ensures the vines are perfectly drained and hydrated. They never lack water or suffer from water stress,

which means that their growth cycle can develop in perfect conditions. In one of the deep valleys of the Provence Verte, the vineyard is located in the middle of a cirque.

This specific biotope protects it from pollution and any external chemicals. It benefits from the area’s natural predators which protect the vines from certain diseases.

Thanks to its geographical exposure, the entire vineyard is bathed in sunlight all morning. The forest gives its freshness in the afternoon, shielding the vines from the intense summer heat. The vines are planted between 420 and 470 metres above sea level. At this height, the temperature ranges from 18°C at night and 35°C during the day in the summer months. This range ensures optimum maturity to produce balanced, fine and elegant wines. Pascal's aim is to have the lowest possible environmental footprint. They are sure that if they respect the land, it will yield the best of itself. To achieve this, they go to great lengths. They are committed to expressing the best, the most original and the most characteristic features that nature has to offer.”

"Biodiversity must absolutely be respected if we are to have a balanced ecosystem. On this basis, my exacting standards have always led me to adapt my techniques to the principles of biodynamics." Each vine is given specific care to achieve a size that respects sap flows. They use foliar treatments based on trace elements and manure designed on the basis of precise soil analysis. All work on the vines and wine is conducted in full accordance with the lunar calendar. By using a minimum amount of inputs, the vines’ balance is guaranteed, thus bringing about the best expression of the terroir.

                For rosé wines, entire bunches of grapes are pressed and the juices macerated to extract the color and flavors. The next step involves making the wine from separate plots using natural yeasts. The wines are created on fine lees in stainless steel vats and matured in ceramic and porcelain pots that bring out the fruit’s purity.

For red wines they also separate full bunches of grapes from different plots. Fermentation using natural yeasts and maturation in ceramic and wood barrels ensure uniquely vivid flavours, depth and elegance. Smooth tannins, fruity notes, depth of aromas, freshness and Alône shows that excellence is the fruit of many small details that make a difference. What matters is the lingering taste and the pleasure in discovering and sharing these wines.

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« I really wanted to work outside the appellation system to enjoy the freedom to create wines with unique character. »

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                                                                                                                                                                                Christian Ott

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