About
Domaine Oratoire Saint Martin
In 1692, under the aegis of André Alary, the Alary family settled in Cairanne, as shown by the municipal archives. Winegrowers on this terroir from father to son, 10 generations have successively passed on the estate, which has grown over time. Each generation has inherited the same passion of the vine and wine, the same conscientiousness for good farming practices and perfect winemaking. Until the 1900s, the Alary family practiced mixed farming. Sheep and silkworms breeding and madder growing complemented the work of the vineyard. Frédéric Alary (eighth generation and grandfather of Frédéric and François Alary) decided to devote himself exclusively to the family vineyard. This intellectual farmer, otherwise known as a winegrower historian by the people of Cairanne, decided, in opposition to the traditions of his time, to vinify his wines by plot. He quickly identified that among his vineyard Saint-Martin was by far its best terroir. In 1953, some parcels of Saint-Martin area were put up for auction. Courageous, he decided to sell all his vines (except the one of Saint-Martin) in order to have enough savings to win the auction. A risky gamble, he nevertheless relies on heavens and asks the good Saint-Martin to help him. He promised that if the vineyard was awarded to him, he would build an oratory in homage to Saint Martin. History and Providence proved him right. Later, in 1984, his grandchildren Frédéric and François Alary took over the business.
