New head of viticulture and winemaking at Domaine de La Chapelle revealed
Rumours as to the identity of the new winemaker at Domaine de la Chapelle have been circulating for some time amongst the fine wine twitterati, but as it turns out, they were all wrong, writes db’s Bordeaux correspondent Colin Hay. That makes it all the more pleasing to reveal not only the identity of the person to take on this role, but also the fact that she has been in post since the new year.
For today, 30 March comes the official announcement of the appointment of Chiara Pepe as head of viticulture and winemaking at Domaine de la Chapelle in Hermitage. Starting from the 2026 vintage, she will divide her time exclusively between Domaine de La Chapelle and her family estate, Emidio Pepe, where she will remain the resident winemaker and where she has acquired an enviable reputation for the clarity, precision and finesse of her wines (notably the estate’s legendary Trebbiano and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo).
New phase
The appointment marks a new phase in Domaine de La Chapelle’s long-term commitment to its historic terroirs and iconic wines.
Born into a historic family of vignerons, Chiara Pepe’s approach is built upon biodynamic principles and grounded in close observation of soils and vines. It is a perfect match and natural complement to the work undertaken at Domaine de La Chapelle since the Frey family’s arrival in 2006.
As Delphine Frey explained on the eve of the official announcement, Pepe comes from a family “with deeply rooted values and a clear long-term vision”.
“I am confident she will honour the past while bringing her own thoughtful interpretation,” she said. “La Chapelle is, above all, a singular site with an extraordinary genetic heritage. Chiara brings a deep understanding of viticulture and an unwavering commitment to farming virtuously. She combines the discipline and respect required to steward this remarkable place”.
The shared objective is clear: to sustain and deepen the legacy of La Chapelle by faithfully expressing the identity, origin and inherent power of this iconic site, with the meticulous attention to the details in the vineyard and in the cellar that define vinous greatness.
Shared ambition
The partnership is built on a strong complementarity, a deep if recently-forged friendship and a visible camaraderie: two women with two distinct roles — one shaping the strategic vision, the other serving as guardian of the living vineyard — united around a single project and a shared ambition for La Chapelle.
As Pepe herself explains, she will devote her “sensitivity, passion and commitment to these noble parcels, they will guide me in vinifying wines that resonate with them and carry their legacy through time”. Working in tandem, Frey sees her role as “bringing together the right conditions around Chiara and our teams, enabling them to fully reveal the identity of La Chapelle … La Chapelle is an emotion that transcends time. This collaboration could only be entrusted to someone driven by true passion and rare sensitivity”.
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The announcement underscores Domaine de La Chapelle’s commitment to the transmission and pursuit of an ever more precise expression of its exceptional terroirs, guided by a deep respect for the living world. The vineyards will continue to farmed with precision, grounded in rigorously applied biodynamic principles, with the aim being to cultivate La Chapelle’s noble site in a way that, through enhanced biodiversity, allows the vines to achieve ever-greater balance and vitality.
In the cellar, the accent is on spontaneous fermentations and whole-berry vinification, preserving the integrity of the fruit. Extractions will be handled with delicacy. Over time, the use of oak will be progressively reduced in favour of more neutral vessels while bottle aging will be extended. As Pepe notes, “my attachment to concrete is no secret”.
Long-term vision
As all of this suggests, Pepe is the perfect incarnation of a shared ambition. “Being entrusted with this role is a profound honour. To work in a place I have long admired and studied represents immense pride and a deep sense of responsibility. The great old-school expressions of Syrah have marked and inspired me deeply. The memory of those bottles quietly guided and shaped my winemaking path”.
As she elaborates, “I will dedicate my full attention and commitment to these vineyards, which I have already had the privilege to walk and study alongside the team. My work will continue in that learning spirit, beginning with careful observation and meticulous attention to detail. It will be a patient and rigorous process, anchored in the artisanal principles that shape my background, so that each wine may express its terroir with clarity, precision and integrity, and stand the test of time. My role is to serve as a steward of artisanality — listening closely to the terroir and allowing the wines the freedom to find their own expression”.
The long-term vision is clear: wines deeply rooted in tradition, built for longevity and capable of evolving with coherence, precision and integrity.
To give you a flavour of what Pepe has the potential to bring to Domaine de la Chapelle here are my tasting notes for a couple of her most recent releases from Emidio Pepe.
Tasting notes
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Vecchie Vigne (Emidio Pepe) 2021 (Trebbiano d’Abruzzo; 100% Trebbiano; 12.5% alcohol; certified organic and biodynamic; tasted with Chiara Pepe and Delphine Frey). What a brilliant wine. Plump, full, rich and extremely ample in frame, just as it should be and as you expect. But, then the fireworks arrive! For what we have here is a spiral of vertically ascendant freshness swirling, twisting and scrunching the fresh citrus notes from the palate as it rise from below. The sense of energy is captivating. There are lovely, subtle and gracious touches of lime zest and blood orange, a pleasing ‘Trebbiano’ waxiness and a delicate hint of rose water. 94.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Branella (Emidio Pepe) 2022 (Montepulciano d’Abruzzo; 100% Montepulciano; 13.5% alcohol; certified organic and biodynamic; tasted with Chiara Pepe and Delphine Frey). A wine of staggering purity and precision. Black tea leaf, red berry fruits that darken in the glass with aeration, espresso bean and a mineral, almost bloody, note. I love the hint of crushed rose pepper corns too. Pure. Hyper-crystalline in texture and crunchy in the bright, crisp freshness of its fruit signature. Glossy, glassy and sublimely textured with the freshness coursing through its veins imparting an incredible dynamism, energy and vivacity. Racy and incredibly tempting. 95.
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