Château Val-joanis is situated in the Luberon, east of Avignon and north of Aix-en-Provence, in the southern part of the Rhone Valley, on the site of an ancient Roman villa, some of the foundations of which are still visible in the lower part of the property (Discover the Vallée du Rhône Map)
In 1977, Jean-Louis Chancel rediscovered this Château, which for several centuries had borne the coat of arms of Jean de Joanis, secretary to King Louis III of Naples.
It is one of the few French estates to have survived successive revolutions without any change to its boundaries: indeed, it is still just as it appeared in Cassini's land register of 1575.
However, all its glory faded during the 19th century.
Vineyards and olive groves were torn up or burnt and the forest had invaded its fields. The land was uncultivated and the buildings left to deteriorate.
The Herculean task of rehabilitation was begun: ditches were dug to drain the water away and the slopes were remodelled from north to south to revive this historic soil, which consists largely of water-worn gravel.
In Roman times, these vineyards produced wines that were sent to Rome down the Via Dolmitia, which passes not far from the estate.
Over the next twenty years, 186 hectares of vines were planted and trained on stainless steel wires,
to prevent the grapes touching the ground and being spoiled.
Inspired by the golden rules of the Dominican order, wine-cellars roofed with traditional tiles took shape on the drawing-board of architect Jean-Jacques Pichioux. Though they look as if they have been there since the dawn of time, they are equipped inside with the most sophisticated vinification vats, barrel store and air conditioned storage facilities.
With the aid of Tobbie Loup De Viane, the famous landscape designer, Cécile Chancel surrounded the chateau with a garden in three terraces, a bulwark against the ocean of vines.