At the heart of Cru Sainte-Victoire, Maison MiP's vineyards thrive across a mosaic of exceptional terroirs. Guided by close observation of nature and a healthy dose of common sense, we cultivate our vines using a regenerative, pragmatic approach, free from rigid doctrines and administrative constraints. Our ambition is to understand our environment in order to better preserve it, drawing from Provence's rugged soils all the complexity, freshness and energy that define the identity of our wines.
The Influence of Montagne Sainte-Victoire
Within the Cru Sainte-Victoire area, Maison MiP cultivates 30 hectares of vineyards spread across a 4-kilometre radius, alongside a further 50 hectares of vines sourced from local partner growers. A compact, cohesive vineyard landscape, entirely focused on the mountain so dear to Cézanne.
The terroir is exceptionally rich in diversity! Red clay soils with a high proportion of stones, silt, sand and rounded pebbles. There are also grey marls, rare in this area, formed through the slow erosion of Montagne Sainte-Victoire’s underlying bedrock. Alongside these are sandy-clay-silt plots, free of stones and characterised by a well-balanced texture.
This mosaic of soils is what gives this predominantly south-facing vineyard its remarkable complexity. With its poor, free-draining and shallow soils, the area is particularly well suited to growing vines.
Beyond the soil, the magic of the climate takes over: cold winters, scorching summers, low rainfall and significant temperature variations between day and night, particularly during the ripening period.
The Art of Blending
Rosé blends are built around the Provençal trinity: Syrah, Cinsault and Grenache. White wines are based on Vermentino, complemented by Roussanne and Marsanne. Cabernet Sauvignon takes centre stage in the red wines, while Serine, an ancient variety of Syrah, is set to join future blends.
Working with Nature
No label. No certification. Guillaume Philip chose to leave the HVE certification scheme, not out of disinterest, but out of conviction:
« I felt that imposing standards on practices I was already following was unnecessary. I am looking for alternatives to agricultural inputs and actively contribute to working groups within the Défi network, led by the Association des Vignerons de la Sainte-Victoire », he explains.
Copper and sulphur when necessary. No insecticides. Synthetic products selected on a case-by-case basis, whenever they represent the least harmful solution for the environment. A constant adaptation to each vintage, the weather and the signals sent by the vines.
« I advocate regenerative agriculture. It’s a concept I really believe in: if I take from nature, I must at least give back what I have taken, by implementing other techniques to help regenerate it. That’s my definition of integrity. »
For future plantings, the vision is one of self-sufficiency: high-density vineyards where vines provide shade for one another while reaching deep into the soil to access moisture. Soils covered with a thick layer of organic matter, much like a forest floor, where fungi and microbial life quietly do their work.
The result: less evapotranspiration, greater resilience and more of the mineral elements the vines need.
Maison Mip
Area
30 hectares
Appellation
CRU SAINTE-VICTOIRE – AOP CÔTES DE PROVENCE
Terroir
CLAY-LIMESTONE-SILT SOILS
Vine Age
1 TO 97 YEARS
Grape Varieties
SYRAH, GRENACHE, CINSAULT, CABERNET SAUVIGNON, VERMENTINO, ROUSSANNE, SÉRINE
Viticultural Practices
SUSTAINABLE VITICULTURE
Winemaking
PROTECTED FROM OXYGEN, LOW...
THE ESTATE CALENDAR
Maison MiP opens its doors and cellars all year round. Guillaume Philip invites visitors to discover his everyday work, from the vineyards to the cellar, from grape to glass.
