THE HISTORY
A FAMILY AT THE HEART OF THE NORTHERN RHÔNE VALLEY
The visionary winemaking families Delas and Audibert joined forces in 1870 through their acquisition of an established company that had been representing the growers of the region since 1835. The families had a unified vision for their new venture: to champion the exceptional terroirs of l’Hermitage and the Northern Rhône. Philippe Delas and Charles Audibert acquired their first vineyards together and worked tirelessly on honing their winemaking expertise. In 1924, Philippe’s sons took over the company to carry forward its legacy, renaming it Maison Delas Frères. The founding mission of Delas Frères remains unchanged to this day: to showcase the finest terroirs of the Northern Rhône through the creation of exceptional wines that are balanced, refined, and elegant.
OUR TIMELINE
A legacy of passion and craftsmanship since the 15th century
15TH CENTURY
Viniculture has a long and distinguished history in the Northern Rhône river valley, with archives from 1480 detailing its presence on l’Hermitage hill to the east. The hills of Tournon-sur-Rhône and Saint-Jean-de-Muzols to the west have already been shaped by the cultivation of vines and their terraces.
1835
The wine trading house Maison Junique was founded in Tournon-sur-Rhône by Jean Junique at 18-20 Marechal Foch Avenue. This address would later become the location of the Delas family home and the headquarters of the Delas Frères adventure.
1870
Philippe Delas and Charles Audibert become partners and acquire Maison Junique. Their partnership is unified by the mission to perpetuate and share the unique quality of l’Hermitage wines while revealing the essence of the great terroirs of the Northern Rhône region.
1878
Audibert and Delas quickly gain international recognition, winning medals at the Universal Exposition in Paris in 1878 and the International Exhibition in Sydney in 1879.
1924
The Maison is taken over by brothers Henri and Florentin Delas. It is renamed Delas Frères and is driven by a renewed ambition to travel along the Rhône to make wine that reveals the unique aspects of the finest terroirs of the greater Northern Rhône region.
1960
With the arrival of Michael Delas, representing the fourth generation, the Maison takes on a new dimension. He develops an international presence with representation in the United States, London, Geneva, Amsterdam, and Brussels. The wines of Delas Frères begin to gain recognition beyond borders.
1990
The decade marks a new chapter with the release of the premiere vintage of the iconic single-vineyard cuvée, Les Bessards, in 1990 and with the appointment of Jacques Grange as Technical Director in 1997.
2020
A new winery is inaugurated in Tain l’Hermitage. Designed by Carl Fredrik Svendstedt, its design combines pure architecture, natural gravity, and custom stainless steel vats. The site becomes a state-of-the-art technical facility dedicated to single-parcel based vinification.
