gilles robin - rhône

As a fourth generation winemaker, Gilles Robin is perhaps one of the best kept secrets in the Rhône. 

In the past, as is the case with many great producers, Gilles Robin and his family sold their grapes to the Cooperative de Tain until 1996. It was in that year that Gilles realized that, in order to best express the terroirs of his vineyards, he would need to vinify his grapes on his own. From that moment of enlightenment came the creation of Domaine Gilles Robin.

The estate currently holds 18 hectares of vines (with only 1.5 hectares consisting of white grapes) with an average age of 40-years and its total annual production being of 10,000 cases of wine (120,000 bottles).  

Gilles Robin’s main project as a winemaker has been the study of the Syrah grape. He is determined to showcase the effect that soil composition and site location has on wine. It can be said that his work really hones in on displaying the effect of terroir on a final product. Although the estate produces wines from some of the most prestigious AOCs such as Hermitage, Cornas and St-Joseph, its Crozes-Hermitage wines represent an immense value and are also what it is best known for.

Having an utmost respect for nature and the environment, Gilles Robin believes that organic farming is not a practice, but a necessary way of life. Staying true to this philosophy, all of the estate’s wines are made with minimalist intervention and have organic certification. 

As a husband and wife team, Gilles and Fabienne work effortlessly to bring to market some of the most exquisite wines the Rhône has to offer. Gilles takes care of everything vine and wine related, whereas Fabienne is in charge of the commercial side of affairs. They are a passionate couple who love the Rhône valley and work tirelessly to showcase its unique terroirs.

Most of Gilles Robin’s bottling is limited to a production of a couple of hundred cases each and as such, they are quick to sell out. We are so pleased to be the estate’s exclusive importer in Quebec and thank the Gilles and Fabienne for trusting us with their project.