Show summary Hide summary
An Irish-owned Provence estate known for blending contemporary art and high-end winemaking has begun appearing on Irish shelves. Château La Coste, the 200-hectare vineyard owned by Paddy McKillen, is now selling several of its flagship wines in Ireland, offering consumers direct access to bottles previously associated with its estate experience in Aix-en-Provence.
Vineyard, terroir and production on site
Château La Coste sits in the heart of Aix-en-Provence and combines vineyards with an open-air art and architecture programme. The estate’s layout and operations are designed so that every stage — from vine to bottle — happens on the property.
Six floral and garden festivals to include in your holiday itinerary
Marriott opens Aloft hotel in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter
The site benefits from a limestone-rich soil and a mild coastal climate, which the producer says gives the wines a characteristic freshness, structure and a saline tension. Farming practices emphasise soil health: the estate has been organic since 2009, using cover crops such as clover and mustard to maintain vitality.
Its top range, the Grand Vin, moved to biodynamic certification in 2022, a step the estate highlights as part of its longer-term approach to vineyard stewardship.
Architecture and winery design
French architect Jean Nouvel designed the winery’s processing buildings. Two large steel half-cylinders house the estate’s sorting, pressing and bottling lines.
Below ground, winemaking continues in a vast, cathedral-like space. The cellar uses gravity-assisted systems to move wine and create gentle conditions for ageing.
What’s arriving in Ireland
Château La Coste has introduced a selection of its premium bottles to Irish retailers. Prices quoted by suppliers are:
- Grand Vin Blanc — €49.95 (Chardonnay and Rolle)
- Grand Vin Rouge — €49.95 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah; 18 months oak ageing)
- Grand Vin Rosé — €49.95 (Grenache, Syrah, Vermentino)
- Château Rosé — €34.50 (Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault)
The estate also offers a non‑alcoholic range, Nooh by La Coste. Retail prices for those labels are listed at €41 for sparkling (blanc and rosé) and €24.50 for still blanc and rosé.
Availability and hospitality presence in Ireland
Bottles are being stocked by a number of Irish outlets, including Brown Thomas, Corkscrew, Terroirs, Searsons, Thomas’ Foxrock, Blackrock Cellar, Barnhill Stores, Grapevine and Leonards Fine Wines.
The label has also begun to appear on restaurant and hotel lists around the country. The brand is mentioned at venues such as the Westbury, Parilla, Ashford Castle and Ballynahinch Castle, and has featured at private events in Ireland this summer.
Artist collaboration and lifestyle positioning
Château La Coste recently released Madame B, a rosé made entirely from estate-grown biodynamic fruit in collaboration with artist Damien Hirst. Each bottle is decorated with one of Hirst’s butterfly motifs; the estate says the release emphasises the artistic connection that underpins the property’s identity.
The producer frames its wines as fitting for celebrations and hospitality. According to the brand, couples are drawn to both the wines and the lifestyle the estate promotes, and the range’s versatility makes it suitable across wedding events from receptions to dinners.
