Guffens Au Sud
Summary
Guffens Au Sud is Belgian-born winemaker Jean-Marie Guffens' independent southern French project in the Vaucluse, where he crafts Rhône-style wines from limestone and clay soils dotted with heat-retaining galets roulés in a Mediterranean foothill setting. His hands-on approach applies Burgundian precision to southern varieties through temperature-controlled fermentations, careful extraction methods, and judicious oak aging that preserves freshness while capturing the distinctive character of the terroir.
Heritage & Leadership
Guffens Au Sud represents the southern France venture of Jean-Marie Guffens, the Belgian-born winemaker who first established himself in Burgundy with Domaine Guffens-Heynen in 1979. After building his reputation in the Mâconnais region, Guffens expanded his winemaking horizons to the Vaucluse department in the southern Rhône valley. The project began in the early 2000s, reflecting Guffens' interest in exploring terroirs beyond his Burgundian base.
Jean-Marie Guffens maintains direct oversight of this southern operation, applying the same meticulous standards that have defined his work in Burgundy. His approach to the Vaucluse vineyards demonstrates his commitment to expressing terroir regardless of region, bringing his northern precision to southern varieties and growing conditions. The operation remains independently owned by Guffens, maintaining his characteristic hands-on involvement in all aspects of production.
Vineyards & Wines
The Guffens Au Sud vineyards are situated in the Vaucluse department, positioned in the foothills that characterize this part of southern Rhône. The vineyards benefit from the Mediterranean climate with its warm days and cooling influences from elevation and evening breezes. The soils here differ significantly from Guffens' Burgundian holdings, featuring the limestone and clay mixtures typical of the region, with sections containing the galets roulés (rounded stones) that store and radiate heat to the vines.
The plantings focus on varieties well-suited to the southern climate, including Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre for reds, while white varieties include Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier. Unlike his Burgundian focus on Chardonnay, these southern selections reflect Guffens' adaptation to regional traditions while maintaining his quality-focused approach. The vineyard management emphasizes lower yields to concentrate flavors, with careful attention to optimal ripeness for each variety.
Philosophy & Practice
Jean-Marie Guffens applies his technical precision and minimal intervention philosophy to his southern project, adapting his methods to suit the different grape varieties and climate conditions of Vaucluse. His winemaking approach emphasizes temperature-controlled fermentations to preserve freshness, particularly important in the warmer southern climate. For white wines, he employs techniques refined in Burgundy, including careful pressing and limited oak influence to maintain varietal character.
For red varieties, Guffens focuses on extraction methods that capture the Mediterranean richness while avoiding overripeness or excessive alcohol. The aging program is tailored to each wine, with judicious use of oak that never overwhelms the fruit character. Throughout the winemaking process, Guffens maintains his characteristic attention to detail, from harvest timing decisions to final blending. This southern project demonstrates his versatility as a winemaker and his commitment to expressing the distinctive character of each vineyard site, regardless of region or grape variety.