France · Rhône Septentrional

Domaine Clape

Cornas and Saint-Péray wines from steep granite terraces, with whole cluster fermentation and ageing in old oval foudres.

The producer

Domaine Clape works across Cornas and Saint-Péray, with steep granite terraces and hand farming shaping the vineyard work. Individual parcels are fermented separately with whole clusters in concrete tanks, then aged in old oval foudres without new oak. The range includes a flagship Cornas from the oldest vines and Saint-Péray Blanc from Marsanne and Roussanne. Olivier Clape, Auguste's grandson, now leads the estate.

Known for

Granite grown Cornas and Saint-Péray

Notable facts

The story

Auguste Bottles His Wine

In 1957, Auguste Clape became the first vigneron in the village of Cornas to estate bottle his own wine. Estate bottling means that the producer takes responsibility for the wine's final cellar work and puts it into bottle under the domaine's control. Auguste had been born in 1925, and his decision placed the final stage of production with the estate itself.

From the atlas

Domaine Clape

Domaine Clape farms Cornas and Saint-Péray on steep granite terraces, with separate parcel vinification, whole cluster fermentation and ageing in old oval foudres.

At A Glance

FieldDetail
AppellationsCornas and Saint-Péray
Main grape varietiesMarsanne and Roussanne in Saint-Péray Blanc
Signature wineFlagship Cornas
Defining featureHand work on steep granite terraces

The Producer

Domaine Clape works across the Cornas and Saint-Péray appellations. Its central wines are a flagship Cornas and Saint-Péray Blanc, a white made from Marsanne and Roussanne. Olivier Clape, Auguste's grandson, now leads the domaine after winemaking experience in Napa Valley, Australia and New Zealand.

The red wines come from steep granite vineyards, while the white wine adds a second appellation and a separate grape composition to the range. The domaine keeps individual parcels distinct in the cellar before combining them where the wine requires it.

Place

Two appellation names divide the range. Cornas is the village and appellation named on the red flagship, while Saint-Péray names the white wine's appellation. An appellation is a regulated geographic designation, so each name places the bottle within a defined growing area and separates the two wine styles on the label.

Saint-Péray Blanc brings Marsanne and Roussanne into the domaine's range. Cornas supplies the principal red wine, linking the producer's Cornas wine to the village that carries its name.

Soil And Site

Steep granite terraces define the vineyards. The inclines behind the village of Cornas make mechanization impossible, so all vineyard work is done by hand. The slope determines the daily work: vines are tended parcel by parcel on terraces where machinery cannot operate.

Story

Auguste Clape served as mayor of Cornas and helped establish the annual Cornas wine market. Olivier Clape, Auguste's grandson, joined the domaine after winemaking experience in Napa Valley, Australia and New Zealand and now leads the estate. The family history therefore includes both a public role in the village and a succession into current cellar leadership.

Vineyards And Cellar

Individual parcels are vinified separately in concrete tanks, with whole clusters used during fermentation. Whole cluster fermentation leaves the stems with the grapes, a technique that can bring perfume, spice and tannin to the wine. Separate lots remain distinct before the flagship Cornas is assembled.

Ageing takes place in old, oval foudres with no new oak. Neutral wood adds little oak flavour, allowing the cellar to soften the wine over time without giving it the flavour of new barrels.

Wines

The range divides into Cornas red wines and Saint-Péray Blanc. Cornas is the flagship red, with young wines marked by deep colour and powerful tannins. Saint-Péray Blanc is the white wine, made from 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne.

The two bottles therefore differ in both appellation and grape varieties. Cornas is built around the estate's oldest vineyard material, while Saint-Péray Blanc presents the white side of the domaine through a defined Marsanne and Roussanne composition.

In The Glass

Young Cornas is deep purple to nearly black, with powerful granitic tannins. The nose brings dark cherry, blueberry, black olive and violet, followed by ground pepper and smoked meat. With extended cellaring, garrigue, leather, earth and dried fruit emerge. Top vintages can develop for 15 to 20 or more years.

Saint-Péray white has a mineral, iron tinged character that reflects the granite terroir. The 2023 Saint-Péray Blanc carries gunflint on the nose, suave Marsanne fruit and length on the palate.

A Bottle To Understand It

Choose the flagship Cornas. It is assembled from five to six parcels of the oldest vines, with Reynards, La Côte and Sabarotte forming the backbone. Several named Cornas sources sit inside one bottle, giving the wine a parcel built shape before it reaches the glass.

Anecdote

In 1957, Auguste Clape became the first vigneron in the village of Cornas to estate bottle his own wine.

Final Word

Domaine Clape joins a Cornas red flagship to a Saint-Péray white, with hand worked granite terraces and old foudres keeping new oak out of the cellar.

Sources

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