Château Fortia has an ancient winemaking history, with cellars dating back to the 14th century. Since then, it has become one of the leading producers of the legendary Châteauneuf-du-Pape region.
The estate’s Administrative and Sales Director, Anna Olejnik, explained that although Château Fortia has a small production, it is prioiritising the Australian market.
“We produce about 100,000 bottles a year – it’s not a lot, we have maybe 5,000 bottles we can sell to the Australian market, so we are not looking for a big importer,” Olejnik says.
“We are looking for someone who loves to work with small family-owned wineries.”
Château Fortia in its current form began in 1890, when Hippolyte Bernard-le-Saint purchased 10 hectares of vineyard, and developed the location, constructing the Château and cellars, and enlarging plantings.
Bernard-le-Saint’s daughter, Edmée married Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarié, who was integral in creating the current Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC – protected designation of origin) system in France. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is now among the most celebrated wine regions in the world.
Château Fortia focusses on Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. Its flagship red bottling, ‘Tradition’ is made with 45 per cent Grenache, 45 per cent Mourvedre and 10 per cent Syrah, and is aged for two years in large oak barrels. The estate continues to make wine in the traditional manner, with manual harvesting, malolactic fermentation and a winter rest period.
‘Tradition’ has received 90+ points from Jeb Dunnuck, James Suckling, Jeff Leve at Wine Cellar Insider, and from Australia’s own Gary Walsh at the Wine Front. The wine is suitable for aging for at least ten years.
Château Fortia has full ranging options, with an additional three more premium red expressions, and ‘Edmée Le Roy’, a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape bottling made with Roussanne, Clairette and Grenache Blanc grapes.
Contact Château Fortia to discuss distribution at: contact@chateau-fortia.com or via phone: +33 (0)490 837 225. Click here to visit the Château Fortia website.