As the name would suggest, this estate's origins are based in the salt industry which at one time was significantly more valuable than grapes. Times have, of course, changed.
There have always been vineyards here but until recently the harvest was largely sold off. Winemaking therefore is something new at Salettes and there is in charge a dynamic cellar master who since taking over the day-to-day running of the estate has made dramatic improvements. These improvements have been rewarded with awards, notably by the UK press.
The vineyard lies on gentle slopes from the foot of the pretty Provençal hill-top village of La Cadière d'Azur and almost as far as the sea. Part of the vineyard was classed as Appellation Bandol back in 1941 and part was not though the land is just as good and indeed makes very promising wine.
Curiously for Bandol, a significant percentage of the vineyard is planted with white grapes, especially clairette. Of the reds, mourvèdre has the lion's share. Traditional winemaking methods are employed throughout with little intervention, and for the reds no fining or filtration and fermentation in large oak foudres.