Domaine La Tourbeille

La Tourbeille has been home to our French-American family for 100 years. Our great-Uncle Patrice, wounded hero of the Great War of 1914, sought a land where he could labour the earth in peace.  He found his happiness here. 

In 2011 John & Mary decided to renovate the vineyard and wine making facilities. We wanted to make wines that are fresh and modern, rich and deeply flavourful as Bordeaux wines can be, and that reflect this unique limestone and flint terroir.  As a family, our goal was to create honest, artisanal wines that would reveal the authentic tastes of this land. We decided that from vineyard through to winery we would respect the Rights of Nature and would keep our work to a human scale.  Our three children joined us as we started, and they continue as major collaborators in this family endeavour. 

La Tourbeille has a long history: the hilltop is carved out by pre-historic caves and the limestone cliffs offer evidence of Druidic rituals.  In Roman times this was an important wine making region. During the Wars of Religion in the 1600’s, the large meadow below the vineyard, Le Desert, was a secret gathering place for Protestants.  A 1764 family journal describes the enviable prices fetched by the wine as it rolled from the original winery on the riverbank to boats below, destined for Bordeaux and then England. In our forest are several springs; two 18th century lavoir (stone pools) still exist - places where local women came together to wash their laundry and exchange news. During World War II La Tourbeille cared for refugees escaping from Paris. 

The crown of the domain is the 25-acre vineyard, rooted in ideal limestone-clay soil. A fruit orchard is planted in the center.  The surrounding forests, pastures and streams foster indigenous biodiversity.  This particular area is considered geologically similar to the hillside terroir of the St Emilion region, 20 kilometers east. 

Our desire is to make wines that give people pleasure. Our Reds are ideal with meals - they really do “make a good meal - great.” Our Rosé is a delightful aperitif all year round, and excellent with fish or spicy dishes - perfumed, light and refreshing.  

Some of our labels were designed by the Boston artist Peter Reynolds. The figure on the Rosé Esprit de Jeanne is from Mary’s novel “Jeanne: Seeds of Infinity” a story about a young woman who is called to take care of her family’s land and protect the secret miracles of Nature in their forests.  For stories about our life here, read "Grapes and Old Stones" our blog posts from 2011 to the present. @ latourbeille www.latourbeille.com

La Tourbeille wines have won many awards and citations including Guide Hachette, London Wine Competition, Concours de Paris, Concours de Bordeaux, Feminalise, Terre de Vins, Bettane & Desseauve, Wine Enthusiast Magazine….  We are certified HVE (Haute Valeur Environmental).

We love sharing our wines and our stories with visitors. Our guest cottage has beautiful, panoramic views of the valley and is a cozy place to relax, to watch the stars at night, to be where Nature is at peace.