Château de la Clapière

Built in the 18th century on the remains of a viticultural estate that was initially Roman then Templar, Château de la Clapière is a great Florentine-inspired fortress surrounded by annexes that had been used for farming activities. It then became the property of Elizabeth Isabella Johnstone-Gordon, a lady from a great Scottish lineage, who became the Baroness of Roissard.

In 1892, the château was visited by the British Queen Victoria during her famous stay in nearby Hyères. The Queen was attracted to the site’s beauty, the grounds’ fragrances, and in particular, the  violets which grew there, which were her favourite flower. 

In 1928, Charlotte Constant married Henri Fabre, founder of Maison Fabre. Henri Fabre was also the owner of Château de la Clapière.Together, they would expand the estate to become one of the finest in Provence. 

In 1955, 32 of 55 hectares of La Clapière’s vines obtained Cru Classé status, sitting on superb terroir within an exceptional microclimate that added a floral aspect to rosés.

In 1988, the matriarch of the family passed away and Château de la Clapière became dormant. The vineyard was still operational as part of Domaine Fabre’s 550 hectares.

In 2006 the grandson of Henri Fabre, Henri Fabre-Bartalli, joined with Bruno Fabre-Bartalli to completely overhaul the château and its grounds. Their goal was to recreate the estate to look the way it had when Victoria had visited, down to the tiniest detail. Working with over 100 craftsmen, they finished the project in 2012, exactly 110 years after Victoria’s visit.