Domaine de Cala

This ridiculously beautiful estate, just outside of the village of Brignoles, comes to us from chef Joachim Splichal.

Before starting his life in California, Joachim worked throughout Europe and importantly, throughout Provence, in a number of Michelin starred restaurants. Whilst he was eventually based in Los Angeles, he and his family would come back to Provence each year. Finally, in 2015 he found this dilapidated estate and created Domaine de Cala. The name itself is an homage to his Californian roots, as ‘Cala’ is colloquial abbreviation of ‘California, Los Angeles’.

We perhaps don’t pay enough attention to the sub-appellations of Provence but it is important to note that we are in the Coteaux Varois en Provence- the coolest and highest appellation in the region that sits high on a plateau at 250 - 500 metres above sea level. The elevation and high proportion of limestone in the soil yields wines of elegance and delicacy.