Location Condrieu, Northern Rhône
Winemaker Christine Vernay
Vineyard area 22ha, farmed organically
Average vine age 40 years
Grapes 50% Viognier, 50% Syrah
Wines Condrieu: Coteau du Vernon, Les Chaillées d’Enfer, Terrasses de l’Empire
Côte-Rôtie: Maison Rouge, Blonde du Seigneur
St-Joseph Rouge: La Dame Brune, Terre d’Encre
Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge: Ste-Agathe
Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes
Viognier: Le Pied de Samson
Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah: Fleurs de Mai, De Mirbaudie
Domaine Georges Vernay History, Overview
Domaine Georges Vernay is better known for its sublime Condrieu wines made from vines that were planted over a 3-year period in 1936, 1937 and 1938. Since 1970, Domaine Georges Vernay has produced a small amount of Cote Rotie. The estate went through a rough patch for a while, but things turned around when Christine Vernay, the daughter of Georges Vernay took over the property. Georges Vernay passed away at 92, May 19, 2017. He will be missed.
Under the direction of Christine Vernay, they expanded their lineup of wines by introducing a new from the St. Joseph appellation. La Dame Brune. La Dame Brune shows the estate’s new feminine influence as the wine takes its name from the brown tresses of Christine Vernay. Starting with the 2009 vintage, Georges Vernay began farming using only 100% organic vineyard management techniques.
The cornerstone of Domaine Georges Vernay is the vineyard planted by Georges’ father, Francis. Like many vignerons in the Rhône in the 1930s, Francis grew grapes alongside other crops. It was well known that vines grew best on the slopes and vegetables on the flat. Living at the foot of Condrieu’s Coteau du Vernon, he planted a hectare of vines on the hillside. Facing south, it happened to be one of the best sites in the village. Recognising its quality, he took the unusual step of bottling the wine himself and selling it to nearby restaurants.
Georges took over from his father in 1953 when the vineyards of Condrieu were all but abandoned. He promptly cleared the other fruits and vegetables to concentrate solely on wine. ‘Nowadays it’s very fashionable to talk about terroir, but I grew up with it. My father really had this conviction,’ says Christine. Georges cleared dense oak and acacia woodland from the Coteau du Vernon slope, built terraces and planted another hectare.
During his 30 years as president of the Condrieu Growers’ Association, he helped to restore the appellation in the broader sense. An imposing character with a booming voice and a strong personality, he strived to convince the next generation that Condrieu was worth fighting for. The appellation’s fortunes finally started to improve in the 1970s, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that its future felt assured.
