Maison Delas Frères
Key French Terms
A historic Northern Rhône maison founded in 1835, now producing benchmark Syrah and Viognier across the valley's greatest appellations under Louis Roederer ownership.
Maison Delas Frères is one of the Rhône Valley's most respected négociant-producers, with roots stretching back to 1835. The house owns 30 hectares of prime vineyard land and produces around 1.7 million bottles annually, spanning appellations from Hermitage to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Louis Roederer Group acquired Delas in 1993, bringing investment that culminated in a striking new winery in Tain-l'Hermitage in 2015.
- Founded 1835 as Audibert & Delas; renamed Delas Frères in 1924
- Owned by Louis Roederer Group since 1993
- Winemakers: Jacques Grange and Claire Darnaud
- Annual production: approximately 1.7 million bottles
- 30 hectares of estate vineyards, supplemented by long-term grower agreements
- Flagship wine: Les Bessards Hermitage (8 hectares on granite)
- Headquarters and winery in Tain-l'Hermitage, with new facility opened 2015-2016
History and Ownership
Delas Frères traces its origins to 1835, when Charles Audibert and Philippe Delas established the house as Audibert & Delas. The Delas family renamed it Delas Frères in 1924 when Philippe's sons Henri and Florentin took the helm. The third generation, Michel Delas, assumed leadership in 1960. The house merged with Champagne Deutz in 1977, and Louis Roederer Group completed its acquisition in 1993. That ownership brought sustained investment, most visibly the modern winery facility designed by architect Carl Fredrik Svenstedt, which opened in Tain-l'Hermitage in 2015-2016.
- Founded 1835 by Charles Audibert and Philippe Delas as Audibert & Delas
- Renamed Delas Frères in 1924; family ownership passed through three generations
- Merged with Champagne Deutz in 1977, then acquired by Louis Roederer Group in 1993
- New winery in Tain-l'Hermitage opened 2015-2016, designed by Carl Fredrik Svenstedt
Vineyards and Terroir
Delas owns 30 hectares of vineyards across the Northern Rhône, with additional fruit sourced through long-term grower agreements. The estate's soils encompass the full spectrum of Northern Rhône geology: granite slopes, schist, gneiss, and fluvial-glacial alluviums. The climate is cool continental, shaped significantly by the Mistral wind. The flagship holding is Les Bessards in Hermitage, an 8-hectare block that produces the house's most celebrated red wine. Other key single-vineyard properties include La Landonne in Côte-Rôtie, Clos Boucher in Condrieu, Sainte-Épine in Saint-Joseph, and Les Clos in Crozes-Hermitage.
- 30 hectares of estate vineyards across multiple Northern Rhône appellations
- Soils include granite, schist, gneiss, and fluvial-glacial alluviums
- Cool continental climate with Mistral wind influence
- Key holdings: Les Bessards (Hermitage), La Landonne (Côte-Rôtie), Clos Boucher (Condrieu)
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Open in the app →Wines and Style
Delas produces wines across a broad range of Northern and Southern Rhône appellations, including Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Cornas, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The house philosophy centers on placing both the winemaker and the wine at the heart of terroir. Syrah dominates the red wine portfolio, while Viognier anchors the whites from appellations such as Condrieu. The style across the range emphasizes elegance and finesse rather than brute power. Winemakers Jacques Grange and Claire Darnaud guide production across all approximately 1.7 million bottles produced each year.
- Wines span both Northern and Southern Rhône appellations
- Syrah and Viognier are the primary grapes grown on estate vineyards
- Style focuses on elegance and finesse across the range
- Winemaking team: Jacques Grange and Claire Darnaud
Delas red wines, led by Syrah, show structured, finesse-driven character with dark fruit, savory olive tapenade notes, and granite-driven minerality. The Viognier-based whites from Condrieu deliver floral apricot and white peach richness with balanced freshness from cool continental conditions.
- Delas Frères Saint-Esprit Côtes du Rhône Rouge$12-18Approachable entry point to the Delas range; Syrah-led Southern Rhône blend with characteristic house finesse.Find →
- Delas Frères Les Launes Crozes-Hermitage Rouge$25-35Northern Rhône Syrah on granite soils; reflects the house style of elegance at an accessible price.Find →
- Delas Frères Sainte-Épine Saint-Joseph$40-50Single-vineyard Saint-Joseph from a key Delas estate holding; showcases granite-driven Syrah finesse.Find →
- Delas Frères Clos Boucher Condrieu$65-80Estate Viognier from Delas's own Condrieu parcel; floral, richly textured, and site-specific.Find →
- Delas Frères Les Bessards Hermitage Rouge$120-160Flagship wine from 8 hectares of Hermitage granite; the defining expression of the Delas house style.Find →
- Founded 1835 as Audibert & Delas; renamed Delas Frères 1924; acquired by Louis Roederer Group 1993
- Flagship wine is Les Bessards Hermitage, sourced from 8 hectares of estate vineyard
- 30 hectares of estate vineyards on granite, schist, gneiss, and fluvial-glacial alluvium soils
- Produces across both Northern and Southern Rhône appellations including Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Cornas, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Annual production approximately 1.7 million bottles; winemakers Jacques Grange and Claire Darnaud