today
Anne continues the work she began in the 1980s with the same passion and dedication. The admin office reflects her generous, diligent and selfless character. She truly is the heart and soul of the estate, and her kindness and charisma have earned her the loyalty of all who come into contact with her – employees, customers, agents and friends, an ever-growing circle that extends far beyond the region.
Meanwhile, Paul-Henry took over the management of the vineyards and winery in 2007, at just 21 years of age. Upon returning to the estate, he set about converting the vineyards to organic growing. Nature, however, quickly tempered his enthusiasm: his first two vintages were particularly challenging, marked by persistent rainfall and a constant battle against downy mildew.
2009: The final blow! Three hailstorms. Battered, bruised and shell-shocked, we had to continue working the vineyards with the same rigour and the same exacting standards, even as our hopes for a harvest faded. In the same year, we decided to suspend the organic certification process to safeguard both jobs and future harvests.
But we remained convinced that organic growing was the way to go. Determined, we pressed on. Except for the occasional treatment when absolutely necessary, we continued to respect the organic growing specification and never once went back on our decision to go herbicide-free. We invested in more efficient equipment and fine-tuned our soil management and amendment practices.
We reapplied for organic certification in 2016, followed soon after by biodynamic certification—a natural and logical progression of the journey we had been on for nearly 15 years (the first year of our Biodyvin conversion was 2021).
Then, as if it had been written in the stars, as he bears the first names of his two grandfathers—Henry the winemaker and Paul the sheep farmer—Paul-Henry began raising Valais Blacknose sheep and introduced eco-grazing within the Pellé vineyards. A sheepfold was built on the Les Cris plot, its eight fully enclosed hectares providing the flock with plenty of room to roam, from the end of the harvest until early spring.
The estate also acquired around 20 hectares of meadows to produce hay and provide grazing for the animals for the period between the time of budburst and the grape harvest.
Hedgerows and trees were also planted in and around the vineyards.
Whether in Morogues or at trade and consumer fairs, you may be greeted by one of two new faces who joined Domaine Pellé in 2020.
Pauline came on board as part of our office team. Her professionalism, dedication and energy quickly made her the go-to person for agents and customers alike. Whether welcoming visitors to Morogues or representing Domaine Pellé elsewhere, she works to promote our wines by creating a genuine connection between the work carried out in the vineyard and winery and those who discover and enjoy them.
Marie, Paul-Henry’s partner, joined the vineyard team. Working in the vineyards every day, she knows every plot intimately and supports both the vines and the other team members over the seasons. During the harvest, she leads the hundred or so seasonal grape pickers with assurance and empathy. Her presence transforms individual efforts into a collective endeavour, creating a shared energy that brings together the hands, voices and shared passion behind the work.
Mathilde, Anne and Éric’s daughter and Paul-Henry’s sister, has taken a different path, pursuing a career in design. Yet her story remains deeply tied to that of the estate. Like a subtle yet unbreakable thread, she connects Domaine Pellé to the wider world, a reminder that its spirit extends beyond the vineyards and continues in those who grew up there.
These are the foundations of a present firmly focused on the future, built on creating virtuous cycles, striving for a self-sustaining ecosystem, preserving biodiversity and the authentic expression of the terroir, while respecting both nature and those who cultivate it.
2006
Start of organic growing
2016
Application for organic certification
2021
Conversion to biodynamic growing
