In 1993, the old vineyard where the Blue Oak Estate is located was excavated, and in 2006, the renovated Blue Oak Wine released its first wine. Blue Oak is only a fledgling small player in front of the century-old giants, but since 2006, Blue Oak has won several international wine awards in just over a decade, and has become an eye-catching boutique niche winery in the wine industry for a while.
Located in the southern part of the Rhône Valley, at an altitude of more than 600 meters above sea level, the Blue Oak vineyard is one of the highest vineyards in France. The high altitude brings a more pronounced temperature difference between day and night in the Blue Oak vineyards, which gives the grapes plenty of time to grow, so that the grapes ripen later than elsewhere, ensuring the acidity of the grapes. However, because the vineyard is too high, the temperature is low, the ripening is slow, and the estate deliberately controls the yield, so the blue oak is not produced much every year, and it is not easy to find it on the market.
The winery also uses biodynamic methods of cultivation, such as cutting plots, planting grape varieties such as Viognier, Hussan, Grenache Blanc and Marsan, allowing sheep to be grazed in the garden, replacing chemical fertilizers with natural fertilizers, and improving the soil. In addition, the vines in the vineyard, which are over 60 years old, and Syrah, which is more than 40 years old, are also valuable assets of the blue oak.
Blue Oak has two rosé wines, none of which can be purchased online in China, one is a regular rosé wine, which is made from Grenache, Syrah, Houl, Cinsault and Mourvèdre grapes, directly pressed to obtain grape juice, mixed and fermented at low temperature for 5 weeks, of which 75% of the wine is fermented in stainless steel barrels, and the rest is fermented in French oak barrels. This rosé has a clear, pale pink appearance, and its 2017 vintage has a strawberry aroma and a clean, vibrant palate with a bright acidity, making it suitable for any season.
The other is the collaboration between Blue Oak and Pondisha, which is based on a painting by Spanish artist Miquel Barceló and designed by Nichole Rolet, the founder of Blue Oak, and is made from 95% precious vine Grenache. The finished wine is salmon-coloured, with distinct floral and fruity aromas, as well as aromas of red currants, with bright acidity supporting the whole body, and a long finish, which is suitable for both meals and drinks.