Saint Baillon's vineyards extend over approximately 90 acres. They are divided into 18 plots of land and are situated on hillsides and terraces with south-eastern and southern exposures. The very rocky soil is  secondary Jurassic in origin and composed of clay and limestone. Over half of the vineyard’s subsoil is blue marl which gives the wines produced from this “terroir” lots of personality.

 

The vineyard is currently planted with six varieties - 30 % Syrah, 26 % Cinsault, 20 % Grenache, 19 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 % Rolle. The average age of the vines is 23 years while the average yield is approximately 40 hectolitres per hectare. Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are pruned in “Guyot” mode and the other vines in double cordon.

 

The whole vineyard is trellised on iron wires in order to avoid diseases and to obtain better wind and sun exposure. Sustainable agriculture is practiced- no chemical fertilisers nor insecticides are used, only treatments based on sulphur and copper are carried out after flowering. Cover crops are grown in between vineyard rows and stones which have been overturned from tilling are crushed and applied underneath the vines.

These rocks absorb the day’s heat and give additional warmth to the grapes, enabling better maturity during the harvest in September.