April 19, 2026
The wind finally stopped. We've been pruning with our faces half-turned. Bud break in two weeks if the cold holds off.
2026 Vintage
Mas de la Ruade
Rhône, France
About this Crew
Winemaker
JB farms 14 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape with a focus on old-vine Grenache. He took over the estate in 2012 after his father's retirement and has moved the winemaking to whole-cluster fermentation in concrete.
The history.
The galets roulés soil was pushed here by the Rhône when the river ran wider. Grenache has grown here for 200 years. My grandfather planted the oldest vines we still farm in 1943. We added Mourvèdre in 1978.
What this vintage is showing so far.
“Mistral blew for eleven straight days in March. Dry, dry, dry. The old Grenache doesn't mind — they've seen this before. The Syrah on the sandy parcel is what I'm watching.”
— Jean-Baptiste Villar, updated this month
Philosophy.
I want freshness in Châteauneuf. Earlier picks, more whole cluster, less new wood. The old style was jam. My style is air and dust and the south wind.
The year ahead
Every shipment, every sample, every pick.
Real dates as they're known. Updated as the vintage progresses.
June 2026
Flowering
Grenache sets first, Mourvèdre last.
August 2026
Verijuice ships
Grenache green-juice — unusual and alive.
Late September 2026
Pick expected
Parcel by parcel across three weeks.
December 2026
Post-ferment sample
Whole-cluster Grenache, unfiltered.
April 2027
First barrel sample
From concrete and old foudre.
June 2027
Blend trial
Crew tastes five component blocks.
November 2027
Bottling
No filtration, no fining.
February 2028
Wine arrives
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge.
June 2026
Flowering
Grenache sets first, Mourvèdre last.
August 2026
Verijuice ships
Grenache green-juice — unusual and alive.
Late September 2026
Pick expected
Parcel by parcel across three weeks.
December 2026
Post-ferment sample
Whole-cluster Grenache, unfiltered.
April 2027
First barrel sample
From concrete and old foudre.
June 2027
Blend trial
Crew tastes five component blocks.
November 2027
Bottling
No filtration, no fining.
February 2028
Wine arrives
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge.
Meet the current Crew
40
members
24
cities
9
countries represented
10 yrs
average tenure in wine
No individual profiles — privacy matters inside the Crew. You'll meet each other once you're in.
Tiers available
Three ways in.
Mas de la Ruade sets these prices. Inclusions are standard across every Crew on SplitVineyards.
Vintner
The full experience.
$1,600
Per member · USD
- 1 verijuice sample
- 1 post-ferment sample
- 3–4 barrel samples through the year
- 6 bottles of your finished wine
- Livestream access to every moment
No vintner spots left
Cellarmaster
Everything Vintner has, plus:
$3,800
Per member · USD
- 2 verijuice samples
- 2 post-ferment samples
- 6–8 barrel samples
- 12 bottles of your finished wine
- Harvest weekend invitation
- Direct winemaker Q&A
No cellarmaster spots left
Vineyard Partner
The deepest seat at the table.
$11,000
Per member · USD
- 3 verijuice samples
- 3 post-ferment samples
- 10–12 barrel samples
- 24 bottles of your finished wine
- Private harvest dinner
- A single barrel selected for you
- Name on the back label
No vineyard partner spots left
Pickup or ship
How your wine reaches you.
Swing by the tasting room when the next shipment is ready. Free. For everyone else, ship is the default and equally smooth.
Ship to my address
Standard carrier, adult signature required. Flat fee per shipment. You can switch the destination per shipment at any time.
Ships to: US
Choose at signup. Switch per shipment anytime.
Recent updates
From the rows.
April 2, 2026
Mistral for eleven days. The old vines are fine. The Syrah on the sandy parcel is stressed.
Join this Crew.
One year of your life, inside one vineyard's year. You'll follow Jean-Baptiste from bud break to bottle.