A younger Domaine by French standards - Le Vieux Donjon was established in 1966 and is now run by third generation daughter Claire Michel and her brother Francois. Trained in Napa Valley, California where she learned much about the wine trade, Claire carries on the traditions of her family before while working with her brother to modernize the Estate. The family owns 18 hectares of land in the Southern Rhone Valley with 17 of these being dedicated exclusively to Chateauneuf-du-pape. Many of the old vine grenache is over 100 years old with most of their vines averaging over 50 years.

Perhaps the most famous region in the world. The name means the Popes new castle. The first vines in the region were planted by the ancient Romans while Popes served their Papacy in the region of Avignon.

Grenache is the dominant variety, ripening is intensified through sun reflection off of round stones called galetes roules. Thanks to the Mistral wind blowing south from Dijon, the vines are cooled and protected from mildew, the wind is so intense it could blow the ears off a donkey. To prevent uprooting the vines are often staked down.