From grandfather's vineyard to an independent address on the Saint-Tropez peninsula
Grégoire Chaix was 25 years old when he took over his grandfather Tropez Béraud's vineyards in 1996 and named the winery in his honor. What began as a family inheritance on a few hectares grew over the years into one of the most well-known independent wineries of the AOC Côtes de Provence. The name says it all: Domaine Tropez does not stand for the glamour of the town, but for the deep roots of a winemaking family on one of the most viticulturally dense peninsulas in Provence.
Today, Chaix manages around 40 hectares of vines, spread across about forty individual plots between Ramatuelle, Gassin, and La Croix Valmer – a parceling that is unusual for the region and gives the winery broad access to different soil types and exposures. The winery is a member of the Vignerons Indépendants and continues to operate without external capital participation.
Biological principles, screw caps, and harvesting in the cool
Work in the vineyard follows biological principles: mechanical soil cultivation instead of herbicides, the use of certified organic fertilizers, and no synthetic plant protection. The grapes are harvested by hand. The harvest takes place deliberately at low temperatures to preserve aromatic freshness and the naturally light color of the rosé wines – a quality feature that is crucial, especially for Provençal rosés.
For the bottle closure, Grégoire Chaix consistently relies on screw caps. His conviction: due to its oxygen impermeability, the screw cap protects the freshness and aromas of the wine more reliably than cork – a practice that has long been standard in Northern European and Anglo-Saxon countries, but which still requires a stand in Provence. The expansion of the cellar infrastructure has been specifically modernized in recent years to ensure precision in vinification.
Rosé as a core competence – with white and red wine in the background
The focus is clearly on rosé. The plots on the Saint-Tropez peninsula benefit from clay-limestone and partly sandy soils as well as a strongly maritime-influenced Mediterranean climate – conditions that produce wines with distinct salty freshness, fine fruit, and clear structure. Primarily Mediterranean grape varieties are grown: Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle (Vermentino). The rosés show typical Provençal aromas – red berries, citrus zest, floral notes – with a finish that receives a mineral, slightly saline component due to the proximity to the sea.
The range extends from the accessible Sand Tropez and Crazy Tropez through the region-typical cuvées under the name Domaine Tropez to the prestige line Amour de Tropez and a structured red wine. With this, Chaix covers the entire spectrum between everyday terrace rosé and sophisticated table companion – all AOC Côtes de Provence or IGP Var, all from his own peninsula.
