The history of Domaines Ott⋆
A young agricultural engineer from Alsace named Marcel Ott set off to find and acquire his first vineyards. His search would take him as far as the parched lands of Algeria, but his wife Elisabeth finally persuaded him to settle in Provence. With the Mediterranean Sea just a stone’s throw away, the wine region is breathtakingly beautiful. The year was 1896…
Before acquiring Château de Selle in 1912, Marcel Ott familiarised himself with every aspect of this ancient and multi-faceted wine region. Determined to produce fine Provençal wines from noble grape varieties, he set about transforming the estate step by step. Clos Mireille and Château Romassan, acquired in 1936 and 1956 respectively, would later receive the same care and attention. A visionary in many ways, Marcel used his expert knowledge to introduce sustainable, respectful winegrowing and winemaking practices, combined with yield control, that would become fundamental practices for the generations to follow. This vision of doing less but doing it better, which is still very much alive today, established Marcel as the first producer to demonstrate the great quality of the wines of Provence.
1932 marked a turning point in the identity of Domaines Ott⋆. Marcel Ott entrusted his son René with the design of a unique bottle, which he originally hoped would be adopted by all Provençal wine producers. In the end, however, this iconic bottle was used exclusively by the Ott family.
Inspired by the tall, graceful cypress trees that grow throughout the Provence region, this bottle is also reminiscent of the amphoras used to store wine and keep it cool in a bygone era.
Marcel Ott soon turned his attention to the international market. In 1933, after the end of Prohibition, the first bottles of Château de Selle red and rosé were exported to the U.S. They were an immediate success, and soon other countries were won over by the unprecedented quality of these wines from Provence.
Today, the Ott family continues to pursue the single-minded ambition of its founding father: to craft very fine rosé, white and red wines with respect for the soil and the vine. Each of the three estates has a unique vision of Provence and expresses this through its own particular soils and microclimates.
Gentle, sustainable, organic winegrowing and winemaking practices have always been utilised on the estates. In keeping with an ethos based on craftsmanship and a bespoke approach, the family uses biodynamic-inspired practices that go well beyond the requirements of the specifications in force.
Since 2004, Domaines Ott⋆ has been part of the Roederer Collection group, alongside other illustrious independent companies. United by the same values and an understanding of the benefits brought by time, these companies share a common vision: that sustainable growth is achieved by respecting traditional know-how, the environment, and the time needed to create ever higher quality over the years.
