Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils

Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils is a leading wine estate in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region. It is known for its robust, full-bodied and richly textured wines made predominantly from Grenache.

The company dates back to 1948 when Italian immigrant Francis Usseglio bought 8 hectares (20 acres) in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with the first wine under his own label appearing a year later. His son Pierre later greatly extended the holdings, and today the domaine is managed by Pierre's sons Jean-Pierre and Thierry.

The estate has around 22 hectares (54 acres) of Châteauneuf vineyards spread over numerous different parcels in the La Crau, Serres and la Bedine subzones, with a large proportion of vines over 80 years old. In addition, there are a couple of hectares of vines that make Lirac and Côtes du Rhône wines.

Pierre Usseglio makes four red Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. The generic wine, also referred to as the Cuvée Traditionelle, is made of 80 percent Grenache and aged in barrels and vats for 12 months. The Cuvée de Mon Aïeul is 100 percent Grenache from selected vineyard parcels, while the Réserve des 2 Frères is blended from different parcels of finished wines. In some years, neither of these wines are made. The rarest red is is the Not for You! cuvée, another varietal Grenache made in the very best years from vines no younger than 95 years old. A single barrel is selected after tastings and aged for 36 months, making just 300 bottles of wine. There have been several one-off releases over the years.

Usseglio also makes a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape from 60 percent Clairette, 35 percent Grenache Blanc and 5 percent Bourboulenc. The portfolio is completed by a Côtes du Rhône, a Lirac Rouge, and Panorama, a Vin de France.