Superstar Vigneron

  Brad Pitt: winegrower, business entrepreneur, and Hollywood superstar

Brad Pitt, better known to us as an actor, is also a dedicated vigneron and highly successful business entrepreneur.

After purchasing Chateau Miraval in 2008, he grew the estate in the commune of Correns in the Var Department from what was then 500- to what is today a 700-hectare property.

Brad Pitt also enlarged the vineyards from 25 to 40 hectares. Chateau Miraval has more than 4,500 olive trees of 13 different varieties; over 1,000 oak trees (for truffles); and 3.5 hectares of lavender. Everything is organic.

In 2018, a clos was created and 3 hectares of Syrah planted. Forty men took two years to create 6 stone terraces. The rocks were quarried from a hillside on the property.

Already famous for its rosé which is sold in a hundred countries, I think it fair to assume Chateau Miraval will be producing red wine in the not too distant future.

After the purchase in 2008, Brad Pitt grew Chateau Miraval from a 500- to what is today a 700-hectare property

In 2018, a clos was created and 3 hectares of Syrah planted

Winemaking at Chateau Miraval is headed by Marc Perrin, who helms the wine empire of Famille Perrin in the Southern Rhone, best known for Chateau de Beaucastel.

Brad Pitt visits on and off and, apart from being a dedicated winegrower, is also an equally responsible vigneron.

In spite of his worldwide fame, the Hollywood superstar does not overprice his wines to defy gravity as some mainland Chinese celebrities do. (Although outwardly nationalistic, Chinese people like nothing more than to take advantage of their fellow Chinese compatriots).

Fortunately for wine lovers the world over, Chateau Miraval is much more accessible.

Brad Pitt and Marc Perrin

When I visited on 17 January 2022, the tasting took place in the guest house

TASTING NOTES  

Studio by Miraval 2020

Light, delicate peach fruit and citrussy freshness. The blend is Syrah, Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Rolle (aka Vermentino), and Tibouren (a black grape grown primarily in Provence and Liguria, Italy). Sealed by screwcap, entry level Studio’s first vintage was 2018.

Miraval 2020

Peachy fruit and salinity. A delicate glycerol aspect. Texture. Older vines from the estate form part of the component of Miraval. The blend is Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault, and Rolle that was fermented and aged in cement egg (which creates a natural stirring of the lees). The first vintage of Miraval was 2013.

Muse by Miraval 2018

Muse gets the royal treatment as it is produced only from vines on the estate and the oldest vines. Grenache Noir and Rolle form the blend. Vanilla, melon, buttery and creamy. Close your eyes and you would think you are tasting a white Burgundy! Only produced in magnum and only 2,000 magnums for the entire world, the first vintage of Muse was 2017.

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