History
Local legend has it that a Roman villa lies under the original Chateau Constantin. Certainly this is an area in which the eponymous Roman emperor was active in the 4th Century. The legend may be just that, but what is known is that wine was being made in this area even before the Roman invasion.
Chateau Constantin Chevalier is bordered by the Aigues Brun river. Over thousands of years the stream has carved the deep and picturesque Combe de Lourmarin, and left on its banks a thick carpet of giant pebbles, not unlike those found in Chateauneuf du Pape. The strong sun heats up the stones during the day, and as the evening cools, the stones give back their heat to the surrounding vines, helping the grapes ripen.
For Allen and Marie-Laure it was love at first sight when they bought the Chateau, and they have transformed the estate. No less than 20,000 cubic metres of earth were moved to remodel a hill and add 8 acres of Vermentino grapes.
Meanwhile the original 16th Century buildings were adapted to house the modern wine cellars, taking advantage of the thick walls to maintain the ideal cool conditions for making and maturing wines in this sunny location. After all this work, it seems likely that wine making will go on here for a long time.
