Happy owner of La Rose Perrière since 2003, Jean-Luc undertook major works and brought a new dynamic into it to be able to offer authentic wines rich in unparalleled know-how.
The history
La Rose Perrière vineyard is located in the village of Lussac, about 15 minutes by car from Saint-Emilion and one hour north-east of Bordeaux. It originated in the 12th century when the Countess of Castillon had the Cistercian Abbey of Faize built.
At that time, the monks established in the convent were commissioned to provide technical and agricultural assistance to the peasants of the region and to welcome pilgrims going to Santiago de Compostela. They cleared the forest around the property and planted the first vines there on the limestone hillside. Its history makes Château La Rose Perrière the oldest vineyard in the Lussac-Saint-Emilion appellation. It owes its name to the water current "La Perrière" from the word "Pierrière" which means stone quarry.
In 2003, Jean-Luc Sylvain, a renowned cooper from the Bordeaux right bank, fell under the spell of this atypical property due to the richness of its history but also its exceptional clay-limestone terroir. From then on, he undertook major renovation works on the cellar, the storage buildings and the vineyard with a total area of 14 hectares (34.6 acres).
The love of wine, the transmission of a heritage
The journey of the Sylvain family has been shaped thanks to solid foundations...those of a heritage of passions: wine, terroir and wood that have been passed down for four generations already. Indeed, we must go back to Pierre Sylvain, grandfather of Jean-Luc, to understand the origins of this inclination. In 1961, he acquired his first vines. From these plots, the property still produces today the “Clos Les Grandes Versannes” under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. From then on, the passion for wine was transmitted from one generation to anotherin the Sylvain family, like a genetic inheritance. Thanks to the recognized know-how of his father Gérard, founder of the cooperage of the same name in 1957, Jean-Luc Sylvain learned the inner workings of the coopering trade and gradually integrated the technical innovation that his wines, aged in French oak barrels, benefit from.
Moreover, Jean-Luc Sylvain fell in love with South Africa and acquired a farm there in 2008, Kroonpoort Vineyard, where the white wine of the same name is produced. This 10-hectare (24.7 acres) vineyard is located in the southernmost part of the Western Cape between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. This new wine region is favorable to the growing of Sauvignon blanc thanks to a cooler climate than in the historical regions.
Today, the fourth generation, with Claire and Rémi Sylvain, works alongside him to produce wines of exceptional quality. Indeed, Claire, an engineer in chemical biology and Rémi, a graduate of the Ecole Supérieure du Bois, have also chosen to follow in their father's footsteps and are contributing both at the Cooperage and at the property. United by the same passion and the same quest for quality, Jean-Luc and his children now work together to produce wines that resemble them, authentic and rich in unparalleled know-how.
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You want to know more about our appellation ? The Saint-Emilion Wine Council explains you in detail Lussac Saint-Emilion appellation |
Our commitment
A reasoned and certified approach
Respect for the environment and the use of natural products as much as possible were very early part of our production philosophy: grassing, organic fertilizers to maximize the quality of the vines, natural methods rather than weedkillers, reasoned and controlled use of insecticides and chemicals, local suppliers. The operating level 3 certification of High Environmental Value (HEV) that we obtained in 2018 was an obvious step given our environmental commitment that has always been anchored in our daily work. This certification, set up by the partners of the Grenelle de l'Environnement, means that the vineyard is managed according to very strict specifications. We firmly believe that the vineyard must be integrated into an environment for the well-being of the vines, people and the site.
In the continuity of the HEV approach, we wanted to enhance our efforts to improve our farming practices by undertaking in 2020 a conversion to organic which will be finalized by a certification by summer of 2023. It will attest to an environmental excellence conditioned by high standard requirements defined at European regulatory level. More concretely, it will attest that our viticulture preserves the biological balance of nature as much as possible.
This double approach of HVE and BIO certification allows us to promote different but complementary practices which all contribute to improving the impact of our viticulture activity on the environment.
A daily commitment
Our teams, involved in the HEV and Organic approach, carry out the daily work with the constant concern to reduce the environmental impact, to maintain and develop biodiversity within the plots and in the surrounding areas. This reinforces the natural grass cover and promotes the development of vine auxiliaries, which are essential for controlling insect pests.
This is why we have chosen in 2022 to plant hedges, bushes and trees as part of our zero herbicide policy. No less than 1300 linear meters of local species, climbers, melliferous or fruit trees now adorn the vineyard. Thus, vetch, oats, clover and broad bean, veritable green manures, are sown between the vines rows in order to restructure, aerate and drain the soil while naturally nourishing the earth. In addition, hedges have been planted and the old stone walls have been rehabilitated to promote the life of the vine auxiliaries. Vineyard and winery washing water is reused for watering the gardens and particular attention is paid to the recycling of waste. Finally, employees are regularly trained and made aware of good eco-environmental practices.
The team
The philosophy of Château La Rose Perrière is to respect the environment and the wine-growing region. This strong environmental commitment of the Sylvain family corresponds to the aspirations of Jean-Luc and Claire Sylvain and their teams. Family of coopers, they know better than anyone what Man owes to Nature and how much it must be respected.
Jean-Luc
Owner
Since 2015, Claire has overseen property management, marketing, communication and various R&D trials. With the technical team, she carries out the various tastings and validates the blends.
Claire
Owner
Bruno is a local child from a family of winegrowers. He has been for 17 years at La Rose Perrière. As a true lover of the terroir, Bruno is inexhaustible when it comes to talking about his profession, his passion for 26 years!
Bruno
Winemaker
Member of the Saint-Elites, meeting of the great wines of the satellites of Saint-Emilion
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La Rose Perrière is an active member of the Saint-Elites association, which brings together eight nuggets of the so-called satellite appellations of Saint-Émilion. The wines of Saint-Élites are the exceptional crus of the Saint-Émilion Satellites: Lussac Saint-Émilion, Montagne Saint-Émilion, Puisseguin Saint-Émilion and Saint Georges Saint-Émilion. |
| These dynamic winegrowers, at the head of reference family properties, have come together around common values. Everyone strives to cultivate vines planted with care by previous generations with the desire to pass on a quality vineyard to future generations. They seek to create, in all authenticity, a harmony between nature and the hand of man. Requirement, precision, and patience guide their steps.
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