Frederic Arnaud’s family have been winegrowers for generations – since 1941. When he married his wife Josephine, native of Lorraine and Sicily, Frederic shared with her his love of wine and its mysteries. In 1995, they bought Château Courac – then had to wait several years before they had a son, whom they named Cyril. He, the say proudly, was their best vintage. Courac stands on the right bank of the Rhône, in the village of Tresques. Archaeological remains remind us of the village’s prehistoric past and the presence of the Romans. Wines on the south-facing slopes grow in sandy soil over a thick clay substrate. They thrive in the cool nights – the result of proximity to forest areas. These vines are some 30 years old; their leaves are thinned, the vines are trellised, and cover-cropping has been introduced. The wines are vinified in a traditional way: grapes are de-stemmed, and vatting lasts between 10 and 21 days at temperatures of 21-28˚C.