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The winery Domaine de La Chapelle (Rhône Valley) has appointed the winemaker and oenologist Chiara Pepe (l. in the picture) from Abruzzo as the head winemaker. Starting with the 2026 vintage, she will split her time between the winery in the Hermitage appellation and the family business Emidio Pepe in Abruzzo, where she will continue to work as the responsible oenologist.
Pepe comes from a traditional winemaking family and has made a name for herself internationally with precise, elegant wines – especially Trebbiano and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Her approach is based on biodynamic principles.
With this personnel decision, Domaine de La Chapelle continues its long-term strategy to sharpen the expressiveness of its historic sites. Since the takeover, the Frey family has increasingly focused on sustainable and precise vineyard work. According to Delphine Frey (r. in the picture), Pepe brings professional expertise and a deep understanding of sustainable viticulture. The goal is to highlight the identity of the terroir while ensuring a careful development. Last year, Delphine Frey's sister Caroline withdrew from management for health reasons.
In the vineyard, work will continue according to strict biodynamic principles to promote biodiversity, balance, and vitality of the vines. In the cellar, the focus is on spontaneous fermentation, gentle extraction, and reducing the use of wood in favor of vessels like concrete. Additionally, longer bottle aging is planned.
Chiara Pepe emphasizes that she wants to respect the individuality of the sites and produce wines that combine origin, precision, and longevity. She sees her task as interpreting the terroir and expressing its character as unadulterated as possible.
(ru – Photo: Alberto Blasetti)
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