Standing above the village of Flassans-sur-Isole, in the heart of the hills of the Var, the Commanderie de Peyrassol was founded in the 13th century by the Knights Templar. This great expanse of fertile soil was a popular staging post and a place of rest for large numbers of pilgrims setting off for the Holy Land. As one of the jewels of Provence, the domaine has always maintained its agricultural and winegrowing traditions.
HISTORY
1256
During the reign of Raymond Berenger V, the Count of Provence Alphonse II granted to Guillaume Catel, the Master of the Houses of the Temple of Provence, the co-seigneury of Cogolin which was placed under the control of Peyrassol. Although it is not known when the Commanderie de Peyrassol was founded (probably in 1204) a parchment scroll dating from the time of the Templars and conserved in the Marseille archives shows the accounts of the Commanderie for the 1256 harvest – 44 milleroles (28 000 litres) of good, honest wine.
1308
Four months after the arrest of the Templars of the Kingdom of France, the Templars of Provence were imprisoned in their turn.
1311
The Order of the Knights of Malta inherited the Commanderie de Peyrassol along with all the other assets of the Templars. The vineyard, lovingly maintained, remained in the possession of the Knights of Malta until 1789.
1790
Following the French Revolution the Commanderie became the property of the nation and was then acquired by the Rigord family. Since then, it has been the wives of Peyrassol who have managed the domaine while their husbands pursued their careers in the liberal professions, until Dr Rigord inherited the domaine in 1967 and set about replanting a large portion of the property.
1977
Françoise Rigord decided to bottle and market the wines of the Commanderie.
2001
Philippe Austruy, a man with a passion for wine, purchased the property and gave it a new lease of life.
2002-2003
Restructuring of the vineyard, planting of the first olive grove and the creation of a new wine store.
2005
Acquisition of the registered plot of Peyrassol.
2009
Completion of the restoration of the terraces with traditional Provençal dry-stone walls.
2015
Construction of a new vat room entirely dedicated to red wines. This wine store will allow red wines to be vinified and matured with a greater degree of precision, thus highlighting the inherent qualities of the terroir.
TERROIR
If the reputation of the Commanderie de Peyrassol has endured across the centuries, this is largely due to the quality of its terroir and the care bestowed on it by those who work there. Protected from the humidity of the wind from the sea, the domaine enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. Set out on terraces at an elevation of up to 330 metres, the vines benefit from an ideal temperature range between daytime and night, ensuring a harmonious ripening of the fruit.
In these clay and limestone soils with a heavy gravel content, dating from the Triassic, a mix of more than 10 varieties contributes to the complexity of the resulting blends. Planted in locations which ensure they derive the maximum benefit from their environment, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Tibouren, Merlot Mourvèdre and Carignan give superb results for the reds, while Sémillon, Sauvignon, Clairette, Viognier and Muscat do the same for the whites.
FAMILY EXCELLENCE
Philippe Austruy, the owner of several estates in France and elsewhere, including the Château Malescasse in the Haut-Médoc, the Quinta da Côrte in the Douro and the Case Nuove in Tuscany, acquired the Commanderie de Peyrassol in 2001, determined to restore its centuries-old reputation. Today that mission has been accomplished: the domaine, managed by his nephew Alban Cacaret, is one of the crown jewels of Provence. To oversee operations, he assembled the best experts and a competent team.
