Estate Under the sun of the Luberon
Our story
Ridley Scott and his family visited the Luberon for several years before choosing the Mas Des Infermières as their preferred spot. In 1992 they bought the Mas and its 11 hectares of vines, where they continue to enjoy the beauty, climate, culture and calm of the Luberon.
A living
project
From the outset, the Scott family decided to preserve the Provençal winegrowing tradition and built a modern cellar capable of producing wines of a very high quality in keeping with the best local practices. The Mas des Infermières is above all the story of a family and a place, a living and multi-generational project.
History
Before the 19th century, the surrounding region, the ‘Comtat Venaissin’, belonged to the papacy and, at that time, the Mas was a place of healing, probably run by Italian nuns.
The first official mention of the Mas des Infermières appeared on the land register of Napoleon in 1831. The estate then belonged to the General Baron Robert, one of the illustrious generals and surgeon or "health officer" of Napoleon’s army. Over 200 years later, the rich history of the Mas is an obvious source of inspiration for Ridley Scott.
A magical
place
Natural beauty
The Mas des Infermières is very close to the ancient citadel of Oppède-le-Vieux and the lovely little villages of Lacoste, Ménerbes and Bonnieux. This exceptional environment, the region’s breathtaking natural beauty, and the proximity of one of the legendary stones called ‘Carré de Sator’, are just some of the reasons that persuaded the Scott family to buy the Mas. In fact it is the typography of this stone that inspired that of the wine bottle labels designed by Ridley Scott.
Philo
sophy
The vines at the Mas are grown with respect for the biodiversity. We care about the earth and the vines, so we use a cutting-edge geographical information system to optimise all the treatments in the vineyard, reduce our carbon footprint, and minimise the use of any chemical and even organic products. The protection and development of the estate’s bee population is also at the heart of our environmental approach. Lastly, we are collecting geo-radar data to help us become independent in terms of water use, optimise the choice of well-boring sites, and map the sustainable reserves of underground water.
Wine
Making
We have a very efficient production set-up, enabling us to harvest and handle the grapes while preserving their freshness and typicality. Our temperature-controlled stainless-steel and concrete vats, and various cooling and winemaking systems, allow us to create different styles of wine, always respecting the grape varieties and the terroir. As a result, some wines are fruitier and suitable for any occasion, while others are more complex and the perfect companion to more gastronomic meals.
The aging is the final stage of winemaking, and some cuvées are matured in French oak barrels which gives them smoothness and complexity while conserving soft tannins.
Cultivated on our small plot of olive trees in the traditional way, our Aglandau and Bouteillan olives are isolated and crushed for our own production. We thus obtain a golden yellow oil with green reflections, described as "fruity-green" type with aromas of cut grass and hazelnut. Its slight ardence in the mouth and its buttery notes evolving on the artichoke will seduce you without a doubt.