Château Simone

The estate traces its origins to a 16th-century Grands Carmes monastery, whose monks hand-dug the caves still in use today. The Rougier family acquired the property in 1830, and vines have been cultivated on the site continuously since Roman times. Jean Rougier obtained initial AOC recognition specifically for Château Simone in 1946, and the broader Palette AOC appellation was formally established in 1948. Today, seventh-generation Jean-François Rougier leads the domaine. Some vineyard parcels exceed 125 years of age, surviving phylloxera's devastation of the late 19th century.

• Originally a 16th-century Grands Carmes monastery
• Rougier family ownership began in 1830; continuous cultivation since Roman times
• Jean Rougier secured initial AOC status in 1946; Palette AOC established 1948
• Cellar caves were hand-dug by monks in the 16th century and remain in active use

Located in Meyreuil, 4 kilometers south of Aix-en-Provence, the estate sits at 200 meters elevation within a sheltered amphitheater. The north-facing exposure protects vines from direct sun and the mistral wind, creating a cool Mediterranean microclimate further moderated by the Arc River and surrounding pine forests. Soils are shallow and skeletal, composed of limestone debris derived from Langesse limestone layered over clay-limestone. These conditions produce wines of pronounced mineral freshness and structural tension.

• North-facing amphitheater exposure shields vines from sun and mistral
• Elevation of 200 meters with Arc River and pine forest influence
• Langesse limestone-derived soils, skeletal and stony with shallow depth
• Cool Mediterranean microclimate distinct from the broader Provence norm

Château Simone cultivates an unusually wide range of varieties reflecting the historical diversity of Provençal viticulture. Clairette accounts for 80% of white wine plantings, joined by Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Bourboulenc, and Muscat Blanc. Red and rosé production draws on Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan, Tibouren, Picpoul Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Muscat de Hambourg, and Muscat Noir, along with rare local varieties Castet and Manosquin. This breadth of varieties is unique in modern Provence and ties directly to the estate's centuries-long continuity.

• Clairette dominates white wine at 80% of white plantings
• Red varieties include Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Syrah, and Carignan
• Rare indigenous varieties Castet and Manosquin are preserved and planted
• Muscat Blanc, Muscat de Hambourg, and Muscat Noir all grown on site

All wines are made with indigenous yeasts only, and harvesting is done entirely by hand with grapes sorted in small 40-kilogram loads. The white wine undergoes 18 months of oak aging followed by a further 12 months in barrel, producing a structured, mineral-driven wine with serious aging capacity. Reds are built for longevity, with the best bottles showing best at 15 or more years. Rosé represents only 10% of production and is treated with equal seriousness. Organic farming practices are observed throughout, with no herbicides or chemical fertilizers used.

• White wine aged 18 months in oak plus 12 months in barrel
• All fermentation uses indigenous yeasts exclusively
• Manual harvest with grapes sorted in 40kg loads
• No herbicides or chemical fertilizers; organic farming throughout

Château Simone produces approximately 8,300 cases annually, split 50% white, 40% red, and 10% rosé. The estate has received a rating of 4 out of 5 from Bettane+Desseauve and 2 out of 3 from Revue du Vin de France. With only four properties holding Palette AOC status and Château Simone controlling roughly half of the appellation's total acreage, the estate effectively defines the character and reputation of one of France's smallest and most unusual appellations.

• Rated 4/5 by Bettane+Desseauve and 2/3 by Revue du Vin de France
• 8,300 cases produced annually across all three colors
• One of just 4 producers in the Palette AOC
• Controls approximately half of the appellation's 111 total acres