Yves Gangloff

History of Domaine Gangloff

Founded in the 1980s by Yves Gangloff, originally from Alsace, and his wife Mathilde, Domaine Gangloff was born from a chance encounter and a consuming passion for wine. Having arrived in 1978 in the region to visit his brother Pierre, a painter based at the Château d'Ampuis, Yves crossed paths with Mathilde, a Viennese woman of fiery temperament, and decided to settle there permanently. Without formal qualifications, just a Kerouac book, a guitar over his shoulder and a thirst for adventure, he joined Delas Frères as a farm labourer, learning the rigours of the trade on the steep slopes of Condrieu and Côte-Rôtie. In 1982, Gaston André, a local winegrower, handed over a few plots to them, marking the beginning of the adventure. Until the end of the 1980s, the couple sold the bulk of their harvest to négociants such as Guigal, while quietly experimenting with home winemaking on small quantities.

The decisive turning point came in 1987, when the négociant defaulted, forcing Yves and Mathilde to vinify and market their production themselves. The first cuvées were released in 1989 (Côte-Rôtie 1987 and Condrieu 1988), and it was in 1992 that the estate bottled its entire harvest, propelling its wines to the status of absolute references. Success exploded: the Gangloffs acquired new plots, growing from an initial 1 hectare to approximately 9 hectares today. The untimely passing of Mathilde in 2011 shook the estate, but Yves, supported by his children Elsa (who now vinifies alongside him) and Loup, as well as his son-in-law Aurélien (dedicated to the vines), perpetuates the legacy with renewed energy.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Gangloff

Nestled in the heart of Condrieu, at the foot of the Côte Bonnette, Domaine Gangloff works an exceptional terroir across 9 steep hectares, between Condrieu (2.5 ha), Côte-Rôtie (3.5 ha) and Saint-Joseph (2.5 ha, more recent). These vertiginous slopes, protected by dry-stone walls, benefit from a continental climate tempered by the Rhône, 40 km south of Lyon, favouring optimal ripeness of the grapes. The soils, a blend of granite, gneiss, micaceous schist and quartz, imbue the wines with a deep minerality and a saline freshness, typical of the granite of the Côte Blonde and the schist of the Côte Brune.

The vines, averaging 40 years of age for the oldest (some planted in the 1930s with the local Serine clone), are cultivated with care: no organic certification but a natural viticulture, controlling yields for healthy and concentrated bunches. In summer, a team of 30 people prunes and ties the canes, while the manual harvests, festive and precise, capture the essence of the vintage. This Rhône terroir, with south-south-east exposure for the whites and south for the reds, produces wines of remarkable purity, where each cuvée faithfully expresses its lieu-dit, from Côteau de Chéry to Combard-Mollard by way of Rozier and Tupin.

Winemaking at Domaine Gangloff

Winemaking at Domaine Gangloff is an intuitive dance between tradition and instinct, guided by absolute respect for the raw material and the terroir. The grapes, harvested at full ripeness, arrive whole for the reds (whole-bunch vinification favouring gentle infusion) and are delicately pressed for the whites. Only indigenous yeasts drive the fermentations, in stainless steel tanks for moderate extraction, with measured pump-overs and punch-downs to preserve finesse and elegance. Interventions are minimal: no excessive clarification, sulphur used sparingly, and ageing in 300-litre barrels (Nevers and Allier) that respects the rhythm of the wine — 12 months for the whites, up to 24 months for the reds — with a variable proportion of new wood (20–50% depending on the vintage and the cuvée).

Since 1996, destemming has been practised partially for the reds, adapting the approach to the vintage for a silky texture without excess tannin. This artisanal philosophy, without rigid recipes, allows the wines to evolve over the years, capturing the soul of the vintage like an improvised concert, for Yves, each harvest is a "concert once a year, with no rehearsal". The result: living, pure wines, inhabited by their terroir, far from any industrial uniformity.

The cuvées of Domaine Gangloff

Domaine Gangloff offers a limited but emblematic range, centred on five flagship cuvées that illuminate the AOCs of Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie and Saint-Joseph. These wines, produced in limited quantities (approximately 450 to 650 cases per vintage), are must-haves for any purchase of Rhône wines.

Condrieu Gangloff: An iconic white wine in 100% Viognier, from plots such as Côteau de Chéry (south-south-east exposure) and Côte Bonnette (south-south-west), on sandy granitic soils. Unctuous and floral, it unfolds aromas of apricot, honey and white flowers, threaded with a refreshing saline minerality. Vinified in barrels (20–40% new), with 12 months of ageing, it offers a persistent length, ideal for pairing with seafood or fresh cheeses. 

Côte-Rôtie La Barbarine: An elegant red wine with 92% Syrah and 8% Viognier, from young vines in the lieux-dits Combard-Mollard and Côte Rozier (over 50 years for certain older plots), on granite and gneiss from the Côte Blonde. Destemmed at 100%, fermented in stainless steel tanks for three weeks, then aged 20–23 months in used barrels (2–6 years old). Powerful aromas of dark fruits, spices and violet, with a suave touch, remarkable finesse and an infinite length on the palate. 

Côte-Rôtie La Sereine Noire: A prestigious red wine in 100% old-vine Syrah (average 40–50 years), a blend from Mollard and Côte Rozier (schistose Côte Brune and granitic Côte Blonde). Destemmed at 40–50%, vinified in stainless steel for moderate extraction, aged 23–24 months in barrels (30–50% new). Unique depth, refined aromatic intensity of wild berries, black olives and smoky notes, with a velvety structure and evolving complexity. 

Saint-Joseph Blanc Gangloff: A recent white wine blending Marsanne and Roussanne, from granitic slopes of Saint-Joseph. Direct pressing, fermentation in barrels (20–40% new), 12 months of ageing. Notes of white fruits, citrus and minerals, with a creamy texture and vibrant acidity. 

Saint-Joseph Rouge Gangloff: A red wine in 100% Syrah, from recent plots on schist and granite. Partial whole-bunch vinification, infusion in tanks, ageing for 23 months in mixed barrels. Balanced, with fine tannins, aromas of spiced red fruits and a mineral finish. 

These cuvées, acclaimed by critics and devoted enthusiasts alike, deserve a place of honour in your selection. Take advantage now of purchasing at the best price on our Vins & Millésimes: order your bottles of Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie or Saint-Joseph Gangloff and let yourself be carried away by their sensual harmony and infinite depth. Discover our selection of the Rhône Valley and in particular Côte-Rôtie with the estates of Jean Michel Gérin, Rostaing, Guigal, Chapoutier, Clusel Roch, Delas and Jamet. Also enjoy more broadly our range of Rhône reds, Rhône whites and Rhône rosés at Vins & Millésimes. For other bottles, magnums, old vintages…, buying wine online has never been easier! Always 100% in stock, with fast shipping and at the best price