Domaine Jones launches Adopt an Old Vine scheme

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 21 April, 2021

Ex-pat Languedoc-Roussillon based winemaker Katie Jones is launching an ‘Adopt an Old Vine’ scheme, which will offer customers and followers the chance to become ‘vine parents’ to an old vine at Domaine Jones.

On Friday 23 April, Jones will be posting photos of the first 100 old vines up for adoption on the estate’s website.

The old vine adoption costs €50 and for every 100 vines adopted, Domaine Jones will make a contribution to Old Vine conference organised by Sarah Abbott MW.

The adopt a vine scheme is being launched to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Domaine Jones’ Instagram Live vineyard rambles.

Since followers couldn’t visit in person, Jones has taken her Instagram community on early morning rambles through her vineyards around Tuchan and Paziols in the South of France, checking the vines, looking at the soils, the wildflowers and herbs across 14 small vineyards planted with ancient traditional vines. Weekly live tastings have also taken place featuring guest wine personalities.

“I have long been a believer that old vines produce the best wines, so much so that at Domaine Jones I only have old vines (all except for one vineyard),” Jones said. “The only problem is that these vines are very expensive to work and maintain, and they don’t produce many grapes either, so they are under constant threat of being ripped up and replanted by younger, more productive vines.

“They have picked up such great vibes over the last year from being introduced to my rambling community, so it is a natural progression to go that one step further and offer my followers a chance to really get to know one of my old vines personally through my adoption scheme.”

Vine parents can choose vines ranging from 60 years to over 100 years, the oldest being the 110-year-old Carignan in Katie’s Rebouls vineyards.

Vines will be listed by name, which can be changed by the owner, variety, and vineyard.

Varieties include Macabeu, Grenache Gris, Carignan Gris, Lledoner Pelut and Carignan, plus a Fitou vineyard, St Roch, all planted on small parcels high up in the hills surrounding the village of Tuchan and Paziols, which are entrenched in wild garrigue and overlooked by Aguilar, an 11th Century Cathar castle.

For €50, vine parents will receive a certificate of adoption, a photo fridge magnet of their vine, a name tag keyring with the name of their vine and among others extras.

A special metal tag will be tied to the vine so that when travel permits vine parents can visit their vine.

In the meantime, vine parents can check in on their vine progress via Instagram and Facebook and Jones will ensure regular updates via vineyard ramble and Zoom tastings.

For a preview of the old vines up for adoption, sign up here.

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