Domaine La Tourbeille has been an esteemed wine making property since the early 1700’s. The wine benefits from the sunny, hilltop location high above the Dordogne River; a profound bedrock of limestone and flint provides the mineral base for our vines planted in this ideal limestone-clay soil. The property is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale. (HVE)
A 1761 family journal describes the enviable prices fetched by the wine as it rolled from the winery on the riverbank to boats below, destined for Bordeaux and then England.
We moved the winery to the vineyard site in 2011 and modernized operations with custom-made, stainless steel tanks to allow parcel-driven vinification, and a hydraulic press for gentle, precision pressing.
Our cuvée Le Sceptre is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels just to smooth the typical Bordeaux tannins; we prefer an authentic taste where the oak offers a gentle, helping hand.
In recent years we ushered in the 5th generation of this French-American, wine-making family: our children joined us in our work, bringing fresh energy, enthusiasm and ideas. Julien achieved the certification Jeune Agriculteur and is Vineyard Manager. Henri completed his Masters of Science and consults on soil biology and biodiversity.
Domaine La Tourbeille is a 100-acre estate, bordered on the north by the Dordogne River and by the Durèze stream on the east.
La Tourbeille vineyard crowns the hilltop. In line with our commitment to biodiversity and healthy soil, the vineyard is bordered by forests, oats and fava beans grow in the rows, and a fruit orchard is planted in the center.
We live in the original 18th century farmhouses built on the vineyard hilltop. On this same cliff is perched our Taverne du Belvédère, Bar à Vins and Tapas with stunning, panoramic views of the river and horizon.
The limestone cliffs are lined with pre-historic caves and mature oak forests. Cows and horses graze the prairies below. Woods and brambles provide home to deer, wild boar, rabbits, badgers, fox, weasels, an occasional stray pheasant or partridge and a healthy population of birds.
The base for our vegetable plantations are the prairies, fertilized only by grazing cows and horses for decades. Here we are applying principles of permaculture, where the first focus is advanced soil preparation.
All over the Domaine – vineyard, prairies, hilltops, valleys… wildflowers abound.
Press
La Revue du Vin de France March 2020 – “An American Vision in Gironde”
Article by journalist Yohan Castaing on Domaine La Tourbeille:
“...Passionate about their work and their land, the Sandifer family focus on quality is based on spontaneity, joie de vivre and shared pleasures – just like their wines which are honest and direct.”
Wine Enthusiast Magazine:
La Tourbeille Bordeaux Superieur 2016 “A super rich wine with dark fruits, it shows weight and layers of black fruits. With no added sulfur the wine is intensely fruity.”
La Tourbeille Bordeaux Superieur rouge 2019 “This is a ripe, juicy and smoky wine. Already in balance, the black fruits, acidity and tannins prove a medley of structure and flavors.”
La Tourbeille Rosé L’Esprit de Jeanne “A fruity wine that has delicate red berry flavours. Lightly perfumed, the wine is crisp and zesty.”
Inspiring WomenMagazine – “Lessons from Le Terroir: Caring for Vineyards, Saving the Earth” 2022
Decanter Magazine – Degustation December 2019: La Tourbeille 2017 cuvée Le Sceptre
Tasting notes: “dark fruit… full bodied… underlying opulence”
Vinogusto Magazine, Belgium –“10 Bordeaux Rosés très charmeurs” La Tourbeille Rosé L’Esprit de Jeanne
Tasting notes: “Un rosé bien fait, équilibré, gentil, rond, onctueux. Les fruits rouges explosent: groseilles, fraises des bois, cerises. Ample en bouche et crémeux en finale.”
Jeanne: Seeds of Infinity by Mary Bruton Sandifer
“This beautiful novel is a love letter to the French countryside and its secrets. Jeanne, the wonderfully flawed young heroine, stands alone against the forces of greed in a compelling tale of adventure, hard-won wisdom and the fragility of forest magic. She is a heroine for the ages, and I loved her.” – Pamela Hogan, Emmy Award Winner – “Women, War & Peace”
