Prince Félix and Princess Claire produce wine at their Domaine Viticole in the Var department, Provence. The Grand Duke’s second son has long been passionate about entrepreneurship, studying business at university, then developing his knowledge of wine in practice for the past decade.
A wedding present upon the couple’s marriage in September 2013, Prince Félix and his team have been managing the estate for the past ten years, supported by the Château les Crostes oenologist, Ted Garin.
The vineyard, made up of almost 200,000 vines, produces around 300,000 bottles of red, rosé and white wine, helped in no small part by the calcareous soil and plentiful sunshine in the Provence climate. The most popular is the rosé wine, which accounts for around 65% of sales, followed by the cuvéé Amalia and Liam, named for the couple’s two children. 15% of the Château’s produce is sold abroad, with the majority exported to Luxembourg.
Built in 1653, the castle is nestled among 252 hectares of pines, oaks, and cypress trees. It was renovated five years ago, and now has 12 rooms available for tourists or for private hire. Ten weddings have taken place at the castle in 2023 alone.
The 1,080-square-metre Château has much to offer visitors, including a billiards room and a library containing ancient tomes. The couple furnished the majority of the rooms themselves.
Prince Félix and Princess Claire are hoping to maintain their traditional domaine for the next generation. “It is an adventure that challenges us each day, but also helps us to grow a little day by day,” Prince Félix commented.
