Domaine de Durban

Domaine de Durban is located in the hills to the east of the village of Beaumes-de-Venise and is owned and run by Madame Leydier and her 2 sons. This is the only area of the Rhône Valley where the Muscat grape is grown and it is from Muscat that the famous "Vin doux naturel" of Beaumes-de-Venise is made. Muscat grapes are cultivated and vinified using the same techniques for table wine before pure alcohol is added to the wine bringing the strength to over 15 degrees.

Bernard Leydier claims that their wines are so much more aromatic, opulent and delicately coloured than others because they use 100% Muscat de Frontignan à petit grains blanc as opposed to Muscat de Frontignan à grains noir which most others producers in the village cultivate. This is the outstanding estate in a village otherwise dominated by a powerful co-operative and several large négociants.