Fortunately, the fact that the Domaine de Trevallon lost its classification as an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée wine to be classified as a Vin de Pays is now just a bad memory. However, this episode affected Eloi and Floriane Dürrbach deeply, especially since they had been pioneers in the wine-production renaissance in the Baux region.

"In 1993, when the wine producers of Les Baux de Provence asked the INAO (the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine) to establish an AOC Baux de Provence for their red wines, the wine producers' union decreed that there shouldn't be more than 20 % of Cabernet Sauvignon used, on the grounds that this grape variety wouldn't be typical of the "terroir". It was ridiculous, because Cabernet Sauvignon was grown in Les Baux before the phylloxera crisis, as described by Doctor Guyot. Plus, growing and using a large amount of Cabernet Sauvignon might have conferred more originality on the wines of Les Baux.
But the INAO ratified the guideline... [read more]