These are the mythical regions of France, named for the old provinces: Languedoc and Burgundy. And they also have that good earth, the terroirs, that France is known for and knows how to sublime. The delightful wines created by the house of Divineo are the fruit of these two superb wine regions. The grapes are grown and harvested in the sun-drenched Languedoc region of southern France and then aged in Burgundy, whose wines are among the famed and finest in the world. Clodéric Prade grows his grapes organically using the techniques of agroforestry or forest farming, a system that brings together trees with crops, here the grapevines, or pasture.

And the vineyards of Divineo, spreading out over 50 acres (20 hectares) in Saint-Mamert-du-Gard in central southern France, are located on the edge of a forest in a protected valley where coolness is the order of the day thanks to the famous Mistral wind and the Cévennes mountains and a plentiful water supply. The result being that the level of alcohol remains on the lower side, 12.5 degrees on average, unlike many wines of the southern reaches that rise to 14 percent or beyond. The hand harvested grapes then make their way to several different winemakers in Burgundy where they are aged in oak casks with local yeasts and hardly any sulfur. Because of this unique blending of two winemakers (the grape grower with one of the winemakers in Burgundy) is why Divineo calls itself a wine brand created by four hands.

The Gourmet Gazette recently had an opportunity to delve into these wines, all of which were remarkable by their clear, pure taste. We enjoyed two whites, three reds and a delectable dry yet fruity rosé. First off the whites which proved to be perfect aperitifs wines but could clearly accompany oysters (which by the way are currently in glorious season) and fish dishes. The Fusion Blanc 2022 was a delicate wine blending together the great grape varieties of the southern reaches of France: white Grenache, Rolle and Roussanne. But then we tasted Eclipse Blanche 2022 which well eclipsed it and a number of other white wines we have tasted over the years. This was a Blanc de Noirs, in other words red grapes of the black Grenache variety, worked into a white wine which gave it an exceptionally rich taste clearly enabling it to hold up to poultry or fish in rich sauces.

But there was more. Three red wines from the 2022 vintage were refreshing and bursting with taste. The Fusion Rouge 2022 brought together black Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grape varieties for a flowery bouquet. We imagined it with braised wild duck. Meanwhile the Syrah de Robiac 2022, a pure Syrah, was delightful with a wild mushroom risotto. And the grenache Vieilles Vignes 2022 which is made from black Grenache grapes emanating from vine plants that are over 70 years old was perfect with strong cheeses but could clearly accompany a noble meat feast of leg of lamb in season at Easter or the Christmas goose. The red wines, in a nod to Burgundy, can age quietly in the cellar. Up to nine or 10 years for the first two and even 14 for the Grenache Vieilles Vignes 2022.

You can visit Divineo’s website and you might want to think about joining their wine club, appropriately dubbed the Club des Affranchis which can be loosely translated as club of the free folk. For the end of the year holiday season Divineo is proposing a discovery case of the 2022 vintages of Fusion Blanche, Éclipse Blanche, Insolente Grenache, Fusion Rouge, Syrah de Robiac and the sublime Pétale de Grenache, a delectable macerated rosé. And if you are a club member you might be that lucky person who has the bottle with a 1-carat synthetic diamonds tucked into the cork from the house of Courbet. Synthetic diamonds are just like mined diamonds, the process is accelerated in the laboratory. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette.

https://vindivineo.com/en/home-english/

https://www.en.courbet.com/