Domaine de
LA YOLE
PIONEERS OF WINE TOURISM
Jean-Loïc’s grandfather bought the Yole wine estate in the 1950s after,
like many other “pieds-noirs” at the time,
leaving the turmoil of his native Algeria.
Their wines are
fruity and fasc
inated
The whole family settled in the town of
Vendres, where Jean-Loïc has remained
ever since, developing a strong attachment
to the land. For three years after studying
for a bachelor’s degree in law, admittedly
without a great deal of conviction, he
worked for his uncle, who produced
peaches and apples and who possessed a
vineyard.
He was not particularly attracted by
agriculture either, but he “had to do
something” and as he had grown up in that
environment it seemed only natural, so he
returned to work on the family estate with
his father, Jean. The latter, an agricultural
engineer from a family of farmers in
Algeria and a precursor, was the first to
trellis vines at La Yole. This method did not
exist in the area at the time.
He also used the first grape harvesting
machine
after
experimenting
the
prototypes with the manufacturers on his
estate. Jean-Loïc remembers that the
engineers used to sleep in their house
during the harvest because the machine,
whose design was inspired by American
cotton harvesting machines, frequently
broke down. A pioneer of wine tourism,
Jean-Loïc’s father also opened a campsite
during the 1970s, a magnificent 5-star
establishment that welcomes
tourists of all nationalities.
For several years, Jean-Loïc alternated
work on the wine estate and travel abroad
and definitively returned to La Yole 10 years
ago. He developed the bottling process
for his wines and a marketing strategy
for export even though he says that he is
“not a born salesman and still participates
in marketing training at the age of 60”. His
favourite wine is called “Quintessence”,
which is red, complex and complicated
the way he likes wine to be, the result
of manual harvesting and carbonic
maceration and then aged 18 months
in oak casks. Passionate and highly
respectful of nature and the environment,
he uses sustainable agricultural methods
and uses the mating disruption method
on a third of his 110-hectare estate. He
is also considering transforming his entire
estate to organic farming.
He remembers the time when they used
chemical products in the vineyards, “the
cicadas and birds of prey disappeared”.
Fortunately, these species are back today.
It is not rare for him to prepare outings
for customers to the lagoons of Vendres.
He has been welcoming tourists for many
years now.
So, follow the guide!
AVENUE DE LA MÉDITERRANÉE - 34350 VENDRES-PLAGE
04 67 37 37 85 - domaine-la-yole.com
Domaine La Yole
Winery shop open every day and year round.
The natural lake of Vendres
THE DELPHINIUM
Evelyne, the master Chef of the restau-
rant proposes a fine traditional cuisine
to her guests, cooked with local and
fresh products only... a value-for-mo-
ney meal, for sure.
13, avenue des Elysées - 34350 Valras-Plage
04 67 32 73 10 - ledelphinium.fr
Closed on thursdays
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