Château de La Gardine is a family winery in the heart of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation in the Rhône Valley. Founded during World War II by Gaston Brunel, it now encompasses 53 hectares of vineyards and remains in the hands of successive generations of the Brunel family. History of the Brunel family Gaston Brunel purchased the La Gardine estate to provide shelter for his family during World War II. Over time, he transformed it into a full-fledged winemaking operation, taking advantage of the conditions offered by the Châteauneuf-du-Pape terroir — a unique combination of soil, climate, and location that directly shapes the character of the local wines. Subsequent generations of the family continued his work, developing both the quality and scale of production. A recognizable symbol of La Gardine is the distinctive bottle designed by Gaston himself. Its shape references old, mouth-blown bottles that Gaston found in the estate's cellar. Today, this bottle is a registered trademark of the winery. Vineyards and appellations The main estate comprises 53 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape — one of the most esteemed appellations of the Rhône Valley. While Châteauneuf-du-Pape remains the pride of the Brunel family, subsequent generations have expanded the portfolio to include other Rhône appellations. In collaboration with carefully selected growers, they produce wines from the Vacqueyras, Gigondas, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, and Condrieu appellations, united under the common brand Brunel de La Gardine. In 1998, the family purchased the 40-hectare Château Saint Roch estate in Roquemaure, in the Lirac appellation. It is managed by Eva Brunel — the oenologist responsible for both Saint Roch and the parent Château de La Gardine. Robert Parker said of this estate: "don't overlook Château Saint Roch, we can expect truly exceptional wines from there."