Alain Combard was born in Salon-de-Provence and is a keen aviator like his father who left his son a dairy farm near Chablis. This was a blessing, for, not only did Alain meet his wife Gaby but was bitten by the winemaking bug. Alain Combard is a very willing man who does not hesitate in carrying out something once his mind is made up.
In 1968 Alain met Michel Laroche, a young Chablis winemaker, at an aviation club in the region; he was also keen on aviation. They decided to set up a partnership to create one of the leading vineyards in the region. After working together for 22 years, Alain, who had had the time to train as a winemaker, decided to spread his wings. He travelled the various winemaking regions of France to search for the vineyard of his dreams and to set up his own business.
In November 1991, it was raining over the Mediterranean, as it often does! Alain turned up at Saint-André-de-Figuière upon a narrow road lined with olive trees and was immediately taken with the 44 acre vineyard. The following year, in June, Alain signed the purchase agreement just before the harvest. No worries for the white wine as Alain but his ‘chablisien’ expertise to work. However, for the rosé, he had to work twice as hard. He rapidly became aware of one thing: that a Provence rosé was worthy of a great white.
His mission was accomplished. After several regattas around the Isle of Porquerolles and several harvests later, Alain Combard discovered a passion for the mourvèdre grape variety, which he shares with his son, François, who came to join him on the Domain. That devil of a grape variety was to make him unfaithful to the whites and rosés, and thanks to it he was able to make one of the best reds of the Côte d’Azur. After such success, he called upon his daughters to help him build up a family business which is now one of the most serious and ambitious in the South of France.
