Producer Profile
Chateau Malherbe
Côtes de Provence, France
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Château Malherbe
Côtes de Provence, France
From the shores of Provence, wines born by the sea.
Château Malherbe is a historic wine estate near the bay of Hyères, Provence. For centuries, this land was used for polyculture, growing various crops alongside vineyards. Today, with a focus on sustainable farming and winemaking practices, the estate has been owned and operated by the Ferrari family since 1940 to produce wines that reflect the unique terroirs of the region.
Location: Côtes de Provence, France
Viticultural standards: Certified organic and biodynamic
Working with us since: 2024
Total area under vine: 28 hectares
Website: https://www.chateau-malherbe.com/en_US/
Interesting fact: With the guidance of notable winemaker, Philippe Pacalet, a pioneer of natural wine from Burgundy, Château Malherbe’s wines have been evolving in the past years. Pacalet’s influence, particularly his experience with biodynamic and low-intervention winemaking, has helped the estate refine its approach and wines.
Château Malherbe’s Wines
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OUT OF STOCKSALE
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OUT OF STOCKSALE
The historical estate and the Ferrari family
Château Malherbe’s history dates back to Roman times, with evidence of agricultural practices on the estate spanning over two millennia. The property was acquired in 1940 by Louis Ferrari, a textile industrialist from Lyon, and it has remained in the family ever since. After World War II, the estate briefly changed hands before being repurchased by Ferrari’s grandson, Serge, and his wife, Mireille, in 1952. It was under their stewardship in the 1960s that Château Malherbe transitioned into a dedicated wine estate, moving away from mixed farming.
Mireille Ferrari was instrumental in transforming Château Malherbe into a renowned producer in Provence, with the estate becoming one of the first in the region to bottle and sell wines directly from the property. Today, her grandsons Sébastien and Romain Ferrari lead the estate, representing the fourth generation to oversee the vineyards. The 5th generation is already involved, ensuring the family legacy continues.
Farming organically since the start
Since its inception as a wine estate, Château Malherbe has been committed to organic farming. The Ferrari family has never used herbicides or synthetic chemicals on their vines. The estate has been managed with organic practices since 1940, earning official organic certification in 2014. In 2021, the estate achieved Demeter certification, embracing biodynamic principles.
To cope with the hot, dry climate of Provence, the estate uses cover crops such as rye and organic flowers between the rows of vines. These crops help to cool the soil, retain moisture, and create healthy competition for the vines, which naturally limits yields and improves grape quality. Harvesting is done by hand, with grapes carefully selected from each plot through multiple passes. This hands-on approach ensures that only the best fruit is used in winemaking.
Terroir and Winemaking
Château Malherbe is defined by its two distinct terroirs: Pointe du Diable and Malherbe.
The Pointe du Diable terroir, located near the sea, is influenced by the maritime climate and composed of ancient alluvial soils with quartz fragments. This combination of factors imparts a freshness to the wines, with balanced acidity and a subtle hint of iodine.
The Malherbe terroir, beneath Cap Bénat, features brown clay-schist soils. This terroir produces wines of greater complexity and depth, with concentrated berries that result in full-bodied and aromatic wines. The schist soils also lend a notable minerality to the wines, making them an ideal match for rich, gastronomic dishes.
In the cellar, each parcel of grapes is vinified separately to capture the distinct characteristics of the terroir. The wines are then blended and matured according to the vintage. Minimal intervention is a core principle, with the use of sulfur dioxide (SO2) kept to a minimum—either just before bottling or in small amounts during fermentation—to preserve the natural freshness and purity of the wines.