Domaine de Nalys

The eponymously named Domaine de Nalys, belonged to the Nalys family up until the French Revolution. At that time, like most noble families, their possessions were confiscated and sold off. The estate was sold at a very high sum to a collective of local families who then co-managed the property. Eventually, the domaine came back into the Nalys family. Married to the Nalys heiress, Philippe Dufays became one of the most influential figures - not only for the domaine, but also for the entire Châteauneuf-du-Pape region. He almost doubled the number of vineyards belonging to the domaine, reaching more than 80 hectares. He was also responsible for the first bottling at the winery in 1955, and for the exportation of his wine to various countries, mainly the United States. In 1967, Philippe Dufays was one of the founders of the Échansonnerie des Papes, the local wine fraternity, the headquarters of which is still seated in Nalys. Today, the Domaine de Nalys still owns 50 hectares of vineyards, 10 of which are planted to various kinds of green grapes. The winegrowing area is divided among three large plots in the lieux-dits of Grand Pierre (the plot directly surrounding Nalys’ wine cellar), Le Bois Sénéchaux, and La Crau.