A little bit of history ...

It all started early in 2010, when we got the chance to buy a small vineyard of 100 year old vines, the picture on the left shows Jean-Baptiste (on the left) and myself, Dick, discussing our plans over a glass of Champagne after completeing purchase of the vineyard in April that year. The vineyard, at St Jean in Gigondas, had been planted by Jean-Baptiste's grandfather and now we had the unique opportunity to re-unite it with the Jean-Baptiste's vineyards just next door. Jean-Baptiste's family have been making wine in Gigondas for five generations and he produces some of the best Gigondas wines, acquiring these very old vines would enable us to make a wine of great concentration and character.

I'm now happily retired in Gigondas from a career in the semiconductor industry, although I have also owned and operated a vineyard myself for 20 years. But that was in England where the climate is marginal at best for viticuture and winemaking can be a frustrating struggle. Though we did manage to make some good wines, this new venture with Jean-Baptiste, who has been making top-notch Gigondas for more than two decades, was a chance for us to really produce the best - the Bees Knees!