In 1988, Isabelle and Arnaud Guichard acquired their estate in the hamlet of Derboux at the top of the Massif d’Uchaux, near Mondragon. The young couple, passionate for careers as wine producers, immediately sought to make the finest Cotes du Rhone possible. Vines were first planted here in 1960 but the Guichards reorganized the 15 hectare vineyard to take better advantage of the soils and exposition. The estate sits on a high plateau at the top of the Massif d’Uchaux, making it ideally situated for the ripening of grapes. The vineyard benefits from the Mistral wind, which naturally enhances the health of the vines and fruit, and is surrounded by forest and garrigue. Indeed, in 2005 the Massif d’Uchaux plateau was granted its own appellation status in recognition of its exceptional terroir.

Arnaud and Isabelle’s objective is to produce natural and authentic wines in as healthy an environment as possible. To this end, they are committed to organic viticulture in order to allow for the fullest expression of the vines and grapes. They continue their multi-year conversion to organic agriculture (agriculture biologique) begun with the 2008 vintage. They no longer use synthetic products to treat vine diseases such as mildew and odium, and only treat the vines with copper and sulfur. All of the vine-rows are plowed and no chemical fertilizers are used. With the 2009 and 2010 vintages, Domaine de la Guicharde wines carry the certification "wine made from grapes in transition to " agrilculture biologique,” or organic. And the 2011 vintage will be certified as fully organic (biologique). The certifying organization is ECOCERT. 

The Cotes du Rhone Blanc Autour de la Chapelle is a blend of 50% Viognier, 20% each Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris (both from 45-year-old vines) and 10% Marsanne. It comes from a site near the medieval chapel of Derboux with a pure limestone soil that is perfectly suited to white grapes. Guichard's white wine is aged in tank on its fine lees until bottling in February after harvest. The white Cotes du Rhone is a zesty, expressive wine with flavors of citrus, melon and minerals.  

The Cotes du Rhone Rouge is a blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah. The vineyard is on sloping, sandy-limestone soil and the vines average 25 years of age. The grapes are all harvested by hand and are then carefully sorted and de-stemmed. The Guichards have installed a modern winery with temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks in which their wines are fermented and aged. Both cepages are vinified together using only the native yeasts. The maceration period lasts three weeks and the juice is pumped over the cap of skins at the beginning of fermentation to enhance extraction. The wine matures in stainless-steel tanks until bottling in May. The Guicharde Cotes du Rhone has vivid and intense flavors of dark berries, cassis, licorice and spice. During vinification, Arnaud Guichard takes care to retain the wine’s fruity acidity (preserved due to the cool late-summer nights in the Massif d’Uchaux area) and, as a result, the wine has excellent balance and length. It is an extremely versatile red wine that is ready for current enjoyment on release. 

The Cotes du Rhone Villages Massif d’Uchaux Cuvee Genest is made from 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. The Massif d'Uchaux is a small mountain located at the northern limit of the Vaucluse department. Its south-facing slopes have a unique soil (limestone and sand) and microclimate at about 120 meters of altitude. In recognition of the exceptional quality of this zone, appellation status was granted in 2005, beginning with the 2004 vintage. Domaine de la Guicharde’s Grenache vines average 30 years of age, while the Syrah parcel is about 50 years old and is the domaine's oldest holding. The yield is a very low 25 hectolitres per hectare. The Massif d'Uchaux Cuvee Genest undergoes a longer cuvaison of 3 weeks with regular pumping over and punching down of the cap for the first week. The two varietals are vinified together. Guicharde ages this wine for18 months in stainless steel tanks and bottles without filtration. He produces about 1500 cases per year. This rich and deeply concentrated Cotes du Rhone Villages has flavors of dark wild berries, garrigue and spice. It is a perfect match for grilled meats, robust stews, and meat-based pastas. 

In his book Wines of the Rhone Valley, Robert Parker writes: "Arnaud Guichard has burst on the scene with deliciously fruity, ripe, round and generous Cotes du Rhone (wines)” and gives the domaine a **** (excellent) rating.