I fell in love with wine when my uncle decided to get, 25 years ago, three vine parcels in Chateauneuf-du-Pape to re-create the family's vineyard and winemaking traditions, Domaine du Banneret, which originally dates back from many centuries.

As an educated business school (Marseille) followed by 3 years in auditing, I initially helped with financial - bisiness plans and participated in the first and and all following harvests. It was during this joyful epoch that I met with my future American wife, Kristin, published writter and author of the blog French Word A Day.

I then started then to offer my uncle's wines to US importers and decided to quit numbers to embrace the Wine world distribution.

Now, besides Domaine du Banneret, I distribute a portfolio of 20 "boutique" french family owned  wineries to 10 US importers.

In my dreams, I have often imagined that running a small vineyard just by myself would actually be a realistic project. And whereas I was not expecting it to happen, I was offered in November 2006, 25 acres of old vines with a great potential "terroir". Domaine Rouge-Bleu was born...

6 years after, we sell out worldwide our entire production, mostly to the US and to the high end distribution side. Our wines have been awarded with many gold medals in France, quotes on "Guide Hachette" and 4 times above 90 points on the Wine Spectator. Domaine Rouge-Bleu has also received a lot a press articles.

Now, I am still involved with Domaine Rouge-Bleu and after have done a "one shot" wine project in Etna-Sicily, I have started a new project by the Mediterranean, near Bandol where I have all my roots. Mas des Brun will consist in :
- Planting, farming an organic vineyard from virgin lands
- Making natural wines from those grapes

- Restructuring an historical multi centenary olive grove

- Producing honey from our own bees left alone in wildness of our untouched forest

 

Besides wine, I am in love with Mother Nature, I enjoy sports, U2 band and before all my Dear family.

Cheers,
Jean-Marc Espinasse