Discovering the Domain of Navicelle, Côte de Provence

At first I jus wanted to try the commented visits of the Domain of Navicelle. Do you know this domain which until 2006 decayed and did not have good reputation in the small world of wine growers... but it turned out to be an unexpected exciting experience !

This visit was a fantastic discovery not only for the quality of wines but also for the personality of the manager Janick Utard.

 

Between the massif of "La Colle Noire" (The Black Glue) and the sea, the Domain of Navicelle extends over 38 hectares in A.O.C. Côte de Provence and belongs to the founding Swede Ingvar Kamprad of Ikea stores ! One might as well say that financial means are not lacking and since 2006 the domain is managed by this young couple of French-Chilean wine growers who renovates everything! The technical parts of the domain are brand new and Janick and his wife propose a culture in bio-dynamie with a diversity of typical vines of the region. 

The domain is distributed on two different reliefs. La Capite which is in plain and contains a lot of vegetation giving big excellent very juicy grapes for the rosé. Then there is La Navicelle on rocky hillside giving small grains with strong concentration which will work perfectly in vintages of red.

Wines of the domain are in A.O.C. Côtes de Provence and is thus realized with precise vine as the rolle, ugni white, sparkling white wine, cinsault, tibourin (used especially in Pradet and Fréjus), grenache or mourvedre. The authorized yield  does not have to exceed 55 hectoliters by hectares which is twice less than wines of Alsace for example.

As I told it to you the domain is managed since 2009 in bio-dynamie and Janick will explain to you very well of what it consists. In short the bio-dynamic agriculture consists in restoring life on grounds to strengthen the natural defenses of the vineyard against the predators of the cultures. There is no processings with the sulfur or in the copper, no chemical weeding and the plow and the pickaxe are the main tools. Processings are reduced at least and especially preventive by using natural plants.

The visit of the domain includes an initiation in oenology and the tasting of wine.It lasts at least 1h30. And it is a very minimum as  ours lasted ... 5 hours ! For our biggest happiness! Janick does not count his time and speaks about the domain, the wines and the soils with a passion that he has no difficulties to  transmit! We discovered surprising association of wines and cheeses especially as the cheeses came from the Cheese maker Grosso particularly famous in the Mourillon District in Toulon. The atmosphere was so friendly that we enjoyed 10 different wines!

The Domain of Navicelle won a Golden Medal on the vintage Red Prestige 2007 in the competition of Wines of Provence in Saint Tropez. Vintages Prestige and Tibouren was awarded in the Show of the Wine growers Independents in 2010 and the red Colle Noire 2009  won the Golden medal at the Agricultural Competitive examination in 2012.

The domain also proposes holiday cottages from April till October, with swimming pool, privative parking lot, garden, terrace, petanque field....
 
So if you travel in the erea DO NOT MISS this visit !!

• Compulsary Booking at the Office of Tourism of Le Pradet (Tel : +33 (0)4 94 21 71 69)
• Paying from 18 years : 6€ - Free for the children and the teenagers.
• Tasting and initiation included in the price rate
• Every Thursday from April to the end of August at 5:30pm. Be there 10 minutes before.

Domaine de la Navicelle
1617 Chemin de la Cibonne
83220 Le Pradet