Pic Saint-Loup AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier, Chardonnay55 haFounded 1978Orliac familyPic Saint-Loup
Reference Pic Saint-Loup estate set in the valley between the Pic Saint-Loup and L'Hortus, founded in 1978 by Marie-Therese and Jean Orliac and now run by the Orliac family across 55 hectares of clay-limestone vineyard.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings Monday to Saturday by appointment
Signature wines: hortus-grande-cuvee-rouge, hortus-bergerie-de-l-hortus-rouge, hortus-grande-cuvee-blanc
Tip: The Grande Cuvee Rouge (Syrah-Mourvedre-Grenache) is the cellar bottle, but the Bergerie de l'Hortus is the accessible introduction at half the price.
Pic Saint-Loup AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier75 haCavalier familyWinemaker Jean-Benoit CavalierBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDPic Saint-Loup
Cavalier-family Pic Saint-Loup estate established in Vacquieres since the 16th century, 75 hectares of certified-organic biodynamic vineyards on cool clay-limestone hillsides north of Montpellier.
Tasting: Cellar tour and tasting Monday to Saturday, winter hours 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm, summer hours 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 7pm
Signature wines: lascaux-nobles-pierres, lascaux-les-secrets, lascaux-carra
Tip: The Nobles Pierres is the Syrah-led prestige cuvee; the still Pic Saint-Loup blanc is one of the rare whites of the appellation and shows the cool-climate Marsanne-Roussanne register.
Pic Saint-Loup AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Chardonnay, Viognier12 haBruguiere familyWinemaker Xavier BruguiereORGANIC CERTIFIEDPic Saint-Loup
Seven-generation family estate at Valflaunes in the valley between Pic Saint-Loup and L'Hortus, 12 hectares of certified-organic vineyard (in conversion since 2003) split across the Rocher de la Bergere and the Plaine du Pic Saint-Loup.
Tasting: Cellar tastings by appointment year-round
Signature wines: mas-bruguiere-l-arbouse, mas-bruguiere-la-grenadiere, mas-bruguiere-les-muriers
Tip: The L'Arbouse cuvee (Syrah-Grenache-Mourvedre) is the affordable gateway to the appellation; the cellar-worthy La Grenadiere is mostly Syrah from the upper Rocher de la Bergere plots.
Pic Saint-Loup AOCSyrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre, Cinsault10 haFounded 1998Blandine Chauchat and Pierre JequierWinemaker Pierre JequierBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDPic Saint-Loup
Ten-hectare natural-wine estate in the northern Pic Saint-Loup at Claret, owned by Blandine Chauchat and Pierre Jequier, organic since 2005 and biodynamic since 2006, with the wines often unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting: Cellar tastings by appointment
Signature wines: foulaquier-les-tonillieres, foulaquier-l-orphee, foulaquier-le-rollier
Tip: The L'Orphee Pic Saint-Loup is the flagship Syrah-Grenache; the natural-wine cuvees are picked up by Raisin-app-listed Paris and Brussels wine bars.
Pic Saint-Loup AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault35 haFounded 1988Andre LeenhardtWinemaker Andre LeenhardtORGANIC CERTIFIEDPic Saint-Loup
Pic Saint-Loup estate in a 9th-century building one kilometre from Lauret, 35 hectares of clay-limestone vineyard taken over by Andre Leenhardt in 1988 and certified organic since 2010.
Tasting: Cellar tastings by appointment Monday to Saturday
Signature wines: cazeneuve-les-calcaires, cazeneuve-le-roc-des-mates, cazeneuve-la-clape
Tip: Les Calcaires (clay-limestone-grown Syrah-Grenache) is the bottle that defines the Cazeneuve style; the rose is a Pic Saint-Loup gateway wine.
Pic Saint-Loup AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Chardonnay, Viognier15 haFounded 2008Guilhem ViauWinemaker Guilhem ViauORGANIC CERTIFIEDPic Saint-Loup
Pic Saint-Loup estate founded in 2008 by Guilhem Viau across more than 15 hectares of vineyards between Lauret and Valflaunes, working from a new eco-responsible winery built in the middle of the vines in 2024.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at the new eco-responsible winery, by appointment
Signature wines: capucin-larmanela, capucin-dame-jeanne, capucin-blanc
Tip: Larmanela is the flagship Syrah-led Pic Saint-Loup rouge; the Dame Jeanne old-vine Carignan-Grenache shows the estate's old-parcel work.
Pic Saint-Loup AOC and Languedoc Gres de Montpellier AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Roussanne, Marsanne33 haFounded 1986Pierre and Estelle ClavelWinemaker Pierre ClavelBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDPic Saint-Loup
Pierre and Estelle Clavel's 33-hectare estate at Assas north of Montpellier, working across Pic Saint-Loup, Gres de Montpellier, La Mejanelle and Saint-Christol with biodynamic principles and organic certification.
Tasting: Cellar tastings by appointment at the Assas estate
Signature wines: clavel-bonne-pioche, clavel-copa-santa, clavel-les-garrigues
Tip: Bonne Pioche is the Pic Saint-Loup cuvee, Copa Santa is the Gres de Montpellier Syrah-led flagship.
Pic Saint-Loup AOC and Languedoc AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault30 haRatier familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDPic Saint-Loup
Ratier-family Pic Saint-Loup estate, eleven generations on the same Saint-Mathieu-de-Treviers terroir, producing certified-organic wines under AOP Pic Saint-Loup and AOP Languedoc.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Saint-Mathieu-de-Treviers, by appointment
Signature wines: vieille-classique-rouge, vieille-vignes-buissonnieres, vieille-blanc
Tip: The Vignes Buissonnieres bush-vine cuvee is the connoisseur's pick; the Classique rouge is a solid Pic Saint-Loup gateway.
Faugeres AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Terret Blanc35 haFounded 1993Didier BarralWinemaker Didier BarralBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDFaugeres
Faugeres estate at Lentheric, 35 hectares on schist created by Didier Barral in 1993, named after his grandfather and worked biodynamically with integrated livestock (cattle and draught horses) since the start.
Tasting: Limited availability; cellar visits by direct contact
Signature wines: barral-faugeres-tradition, barral-jadis, barral-valinieres
Tip: Jadis (Syrah-Grenache-Carignan) is the cellar bottle and one of the longest-lived Faugeres reds; the Valinieres (Mourvedre-Syrah) is the prestige cuvee from upper-slope schist.
Faugeres AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc60 haVidal-Dumoulin familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDFaugeres
Vidal-Dumoulin family estate at the hamlet of La Liquiere in Cabrerolles, 60 hectares on the pure schist hillsides of the Faugeres appellation, certified organic.
Tasting: Cellar tour and tasting at La Liquiere by appointment
Signature wines: liquiere-cistus, liquiere-nos-racines, liquiere-amandiers
Tip: The Cistus rouge is the schist-driven flagship; the Nos Racines old-vine Carignan shows the estate's heritage parcels.
Faugeres AOC and IGP Pays d'HeraultSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault11 haFounded 2007Brigitte ChevalierWinemaker Brigitte ChevalierORGANIC CERTIFIEDFaugeres
Eleven-hectare hilltop Faugeres estate founded in 2007 by Brigitte Chevalier after a Bordeaux trade career, set on schist bedrock inside the Haut-Languedoc Natural Park with a tasting room and gite among the vines.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at the hilltop winery by appointment; gite accommodation available
Signature wines: cebene-belle-lurette, cebene-felgaria, cebene-les-bancels
Tip: Felgaria (Mourvedre-led) is the schist flagship; Belle Lurette (old-vine Carignan-Grenache) is the heritage cuvee.
Faugeres AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Roussanne, Marsanne22 haFounded 2018Sophie and Thibaud Bardi de FourtouORGANIC CERTIFIEDFaugeres
Historic Faugeres estate (formerly Jean-Michel Alquier, an early architect of the appellation), joined and renamed in 2018 by Sophie and Thibaud Bardi de Fourtou, with the schist parcels still at the core of the wines.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Faugeres by appointment
Signature wines: bardi-alquier-les-bastides, bardi-alquier-maison-jaune, bardi-alquier-blanc
Tip: Les Bastides (Syrah-Grenache-Mourvedre) is the cellar bottle; the Maison Jaune is the entry-level Faugeres rouge.
Faugeres AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Marsanne36 haOllier familyWinemaker Luc OllierORGANIC CERTIFIEDFaugeres
Five-generation Faugeres family estate at Fos run by siblings Luc and Francoise Ollier on 36 hectares of schist in conversion to organic agriculture, with their parents Nicole and Alain among the architects of the 1982 AOC decree.
Tasting: Cellar tour and tasting at Fos by appointment
Signature wines: ollier-taillefer-castel-fossibus, ollier-taillefer-collines-bleues, ollier-taillefer-allegro
Tip: Castel Fossibus (old-vine Syrah-Mourvedre-Grenache) is the prestige bottle; the Allegro white (Roussanne-Marsanne-Vermentino) is a rare AOC Faugeres blanc.
Faugeres AOC and IGP Cotes de ThongueSyrah, Carignan, Grenache, Mourvedre, Lledoner Pelut15 haFounded 2014Adele Arnaud and Olivier GilWinemaker Olivier GilORGANIC CERTIFIEDFaugeres
Faugeres estate established in 2014 by Adele Arnaud and Olivier Gil, 11 hectares of old-vine schist and 4 hectares of Cotes de Thongue clay-limestone planted to Syrah, old Carignan and the rare Lledoner Pelut.
Tasting: Cellar tastings and on-site accommodation; visits by appointment
Signature wines: mas-lou-angaco, mas-lou-aksou, mas-lou-blanc
Tip: Angaco (Faugeres rouge) is the schist flagship; the estate runs five guest rooms for vineyard stays.
Faugeres AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, CinsaultFounded 1959Les Crus Faugeres cooperative membersFaugeres
Faugeres cooperative winery founded in 1959 and operating under the Mas Olivier label, with the Vilavigne cellar door at Faugeres open year-round and a broad range of Faugeres AOC reds, whites and roses.
Tasting: Cellar tour and tasting at the Vilavigne cellar door at Faugeres
Signature wines: mas-olivier-expression, mas-olivier-grand-fontaine, mas-olivier-tradition
Tip: The Expression rouge is the cooperative's value Faugeres; the Grand Fontaine is the upper-tier old-vine bottling.
Saint-Chinian AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault16 haFounded 1988Pascaline and Yves BourWinemaker Noemie VidlSaint-Chinian
Saint-Chinian estate at Bramefan, 16 hectares of vines (in a 25-hectare property) at 210 to 300 metres elevation, built from 1988 by Isabelle and Mathieu Champart and acquired in late 2020 by Pascaline and Yves Bour, who entrusted the cellar to Noemie Vidl while keeping the Bordeaux-meets-Languedoc precision intact.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Bramefan, Saint-Chinian by appointment
Signature wines: champart-cote-d-arbo, champart-causse-du-bousquet, champart-clos-de-la-simonette
Tip: Causse du Bousquet is the prestige Syrah-led cuvee; Clos de la Simonette is the old-vine Mourvedre that often outlives the warmer Languedoc reds.
Saint-Chinian AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, CinsaultFounded 1998Cyril BourgneWinemaker Cyril BourgneSaint-Chinian
Saint-Chinian estate founded in 1998 by Bordeaux-trained Cyril Bourgne, working schist parcels in the northern Saint-Chinian zone with a precision-oriented approach learned from the Saint-Emilion grand crus.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at La Madura by appointment
Signature wines: madura-classic, madura-grand-vin, madura-blanc
Tip: The Grand Vin is the cellar Syrah-Mourvedre; Classic is the everyday Saint-Chinian rouge.
Saint-Chinian AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, CinsaultFounded 1990Cathy Planes and Jean-Francois Izarn familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDSaint-Chinian
Saint-Chinian organic estate at Causses-et-Veyran north of Beziers, working three terroir-specific cuvees (Les Cres on rolled pebbles, Les Schistes on schist, Les Terres Blanches on clay-limestone) since 1990.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Causses-et-Veyran by appointment
Signature wines: vitarele-les-cres, vitarele-les-schistes, vitarele-les-terres-blanches
Tip: Each of the three terroir cuvees is bottled separately, which makes Borie La Vitarele the cleanest vertical of Saint-Chinian's three soil types in a single estate.
Saint-Chinian-Berlou AOC and Saint-Chinian AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault, Roussanne, MarsanneMartin familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDSaint-Chinian
Saint-Chinian-Berlou estate on the schist hillsides above the Orb river at Berlou, certified organic and producing both Saint-Chinian-Berlou cru reds and Saint-Chinian whites.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Berlou, by appointment
Signature wines: cambis-carnet-de-voyage, cambis-kalliope
Tip: Carnet de Voyage is the Berlou-cru flagship Syrah-Grenache; Kalliope is the rare Saint-Chinian blanc.
Saint-Chinian AOCSyrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault18 haFounded 1992Marc ValetteWinemaker Marc ValetteORGANIC CERTIFIEDSaint-Chinian
Saint-Chinian organic estate founded in 1992 by Marc Valette at Cessenon-sur-Orb, 18 hectares planted 80 percent to Syrah and worked with very late harvest dates, ECOCERT certified since 1999.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Cessenon-sur-Orb by appointment
Signature wines: canet-valette-mille-et-une-nuits, canet-valette-le-vin-maghani, canet-valette-une-et-mille-nuits
Tip: Maghani is the Syrah-led cellar cuvee; the wines are picked at over-ripeness and have a distinctive black-fig profile.
Saint-Chinian AOC and IGP Coteaux de MurvielMourvedre, Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc54 haFounded 1868Guy familyWinemaker Florence GuyORGANIC CERTIFIEDSaint-Chinian
Saint-Chinian family estate at Murviel-les-Beziers established by the Guy family in 1868, 54 hectares of clay-limestone vineyard at 140 metres elevation, certified organic since 2008 under the Florence Guy generation.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Murviel-les-Beziers by appointment
Signature wines: coujan-bois-joli, coujan-rapsodie, coujan-tradition
Tip: The Bois Joli blanc (Roussanne-Grenache Blanc) is a benchmark Saint-Chinian white; the estate also produces olive oil from the border olive trees.
Corbieres AOC and Corbieres-Boutenac AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault100 haPierre GabisonORGANIC CERTIFIEDCorbieres-Boutenac
Corbieres organic pioneer at Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, 100 hectares of vines inside a 600-hectare property, in organic agriculture from 1958 and fully certified since 1987, taken over by Pierre Gabison in 2005.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, year-round
Signature wines: caraguilhes-classique, caraguilhes-prestige, caraguilhes-solus
Tip: The Solus old-vine Carignan is the heritage bottling; Caraguilhes Prestige is the Corbieres-Boutenac flagship.
Corbieres-Boutenac AOC and Corbieres AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, CinsaultReverdy familyWinemaker Laurent ReverdyCorbieres-Boutenac
Seven-generation Corbieres-Boutenac estate at the Gasparets hamlet, run by the Reverdy family - Patrick alongside sons Laurent and Paul - with the Romain Pauc old-vine Carignan as the cellar flagship.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Gasparets, Boutenac year-round
Signature wines: voulte-gasparets-romain-pauc, voulte-gasparets-cuvee-reservee, voulte-gasparets-vieilles-vignes
Tip: Romain Pauc (named for the founder of the modern era) is the cellar Corbieres-Boutenac; the Cuvee Reservee is the AOC Corbieres value bottling.
Corbieres AOC and IGP Pays d'OcCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Viognier, Roussanne17 haFounded 1989Leferrer familyWinemaker Herve LeferrerCorbieres-Boutenac
Burgundy-trained estate founded in 1989 by Herve Leferrer (former INAO official and Domaine de la Romanee-Conti director), 17 hectares of Corbieres at 300 metres altitude in a heart of the appellation surrounded by garrigue.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Ferrals-les-Corbieres by appointment
Signature wines: grand-cres-rouge, grand-cres-blanc, grand-cres-majeure
Tip: Cuvee Majeure is the structured Corbieres rouge that benefits most from cellar age.
Corbieres AOC and Corbieres-Boutenac AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne75 haBories familyWinemaker Pierre BoriesORGANIC CERTIFIEDCorbieres-Boutenac
Corbieres-Boutenac organic estate at Montseret on Route Departementale 613, run by Pierre Bories with a vineyard restaurant (La Touketa) on the property.
Tasting: Cellar tastings and on-site bistro La Touketa at Montseret
Signature wines: ollieux-romanis-cuvee-classique, ollieux-romanis-or-de-la-touketa, ollieux-romanis-prestige-boutenac
Tip: The Prestige Boutenac (Carignan-Grenache-Syrah) is the cellar bottling; the on-site La Touketa restaurant pairs the wines with regional food.
Corbieres-Boutenac AOC and Corbieres AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, CinsaultFounded 1971Laboucarie familyWinemaker Bruno LaboucarieCorbieres-Boutenac
Corbieres-Boutenac family estate at Boutenac, founded in its modern form in 1971 by Yves Laboucarie and run since 1993 by his son Bruno Laboucarie, with Clos du Centurion and Reserve La Demoiselle as the cellar reds.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Boutenac year-round
Signature wines: fontsainte-clos-du-centurion, fontsainte-reserve-la-demoiselle, fontsainte-gris-de-gris
Tip: The Gris de Gris (Grenache-Cinsault blush) is one of the Corbieres' best-known light-pink wines for hot-summer dinners.
Corbieres AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault10 haJon and Elizabeth BowenWinemaker Jon BowenORGANIC CERTIFIEDCorbieres-Boutenac
Welsh-owned Corbieres organic estate at Fraisse-des-Corbieres on the southern Languedoc border, 10 hectares in the rocky Hautes Corbieres on the edge of the Roussillon, run by Jon and Elizabeth Bowen for more than two decades.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Fraisse-des-Corbieres by appointment
Signature wines: sainte-croix-le-fournas, sainte-croix-magneric, sainte-croix-celeste
Tip: Le Fournas and Magneric are the cellar reds; the estate's natural-leaning approach gets it picked up by UK and US natural-wine importers.
Minervois-La Liviniere AOC and Minervois AOCSyrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre, Cinsault45 haFounded 1997Robert EdenWinemaker Robert EdenDemeter CertifiedECOCERTMinervois-La Liviniere
Minervois-La Liviniere biodynamic estate purchased in 1997 by British-born Robert Eden, certified organic by Ecocert in 2002, Biodyvin in 2004 and Demeter in 2008, with B Corp certification awarded in 2016.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at La Liviniere by appointment
Signature wines: maris-la-touge, maris-les-planels, maris-old-vine-grenache
Tip: Les Planels is the upper-tier Syrah-Grenache bottling; the on-site hemp-cellar building is a sustainability case study in its own right.
Minervois AOC and Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois AOC and IGPCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Muscat a Petits Grains, Terret BourretJohn and Nicole BojanowskiWinemaker John BojanowskiORGANIC CERTIFIEDMinervois-La Liviniere
Minervois organic estate on the high limestone plateau of Saint-Jean-de-Minervois, founded by Franco-American couple John and Nicole Bojanowski, working both dry Minervois reds and AOC Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois fortified Muscats.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Saint-Jean-de-Minervois by appointment
Signature wines: gravillas-l-inattendu, gravillas-lo-vielh, gravillas-muscat
Tip: Lo Vielh is the old-vine Carignan; the Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois bottling is an age-worthy Languedoc fortified white that holds for a decade in cellar.
Minervois-La Liviniere AOC and Minervois AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, CinsaultMichel Escande familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDMinervois-La Liviniere
Minervois-La Liviniere estate at Felines-Minervois run by the Escande family, working biodynamic principles and an old-vine focus inside the Minervois-La Liviniere cru.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Felines-Minervois Monday to Saturday, 9am to 12pm and 3pm to 6pm
Signature wines: borie-de-maurel-la-feline, borie-de-maurel-sylla, borie-de-maurel-belle-de-nuit
Tip: La Feline is the affordable old-vine Syrah-Carignan; Sylla is the cellar-worthy upper-tier La Liviniere.
Minervois AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, CinsaultFounded 1969Iche familyWinemaker Marie-Pierre IcheMinervois-La Liviniere
Minervois family estate in a 12th-century chateau at Oupia, taken over in 1969 by Andre Iche and run since 2007 by his daughter Marie-Pierre Iche, classic old-vine Carignan-led Minervois.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at the 12th-century chateau in Oupia, by appointment
Signature wines: oupia-tradition, oupia-les-barons, oupia-nobilis
Tip: The Tradition is the value Minervois rouge that punches above its price point; Les Barons is the upper-tier old-vine bottling.
Minervois-La Liviniere AOC and Minervois AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, CinsaultPhilippe and Maguy ChabbertWinemaker Philippe ChabbertMinervois-La Liviniere
Minervois family estate at Felines-Minervois run by Philippe and Maguy Chabbert, working both AOC Minervois-La Liviniere reds and standard Minervois.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Felines-Minervois by appointment
Signature wines: petit-causse-cuvee-andrea, petit-causse-tradition, petit-causse-blanc
Tip: Cuvee Andrea is the La Liviniere cru flagship; the Tradition is the entry-level Minervois.
Mas Jullien ★ 4.9
Terrasses du Larzac AOC and Languedoc AOCCarignan, Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Chenin Blanc, Carignan Blanc18 haFounded 1985Olivier JullienWinemaker Olivier JullienBiodynamic PracticingTerrasses du Larzac
Terrasses du Larzac pioneer founded in 1985 by Olivier Jullien at Jonquieres west of Montpellier when he was barely 20, now 18 hectares of varied-soil parcels worked biodynamically without certification (the estate held organic certification until 2006, then renounced it).
Tasting: Cellar tastings extremely limited; mailing-list allocation only
Signature wines: mas-jullien-autour-de-jonquieres, mas-jullien-etats-d-ame, mas-jullien-carlan
Tip: The bottles are scarce: mailing-list only, and Autour de Jonquieres is the most-allocated bottle; Etats d'Ame is the upper-tier cellar release.
Terrasses du Larzac AOC and Languedoc AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault, Vermentino, Roussanne, Marsanne, Chenin BlancIsabelle and Vincent GoumardWinemaker Vincent GoumardBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDTerrasses du Larzac
Terrasses du Larzac estate originally founded by Jean-Pierre Jullien (Olivier Jullien's father) and taken over in 2004 by Isabelle and Vincent Goumard at Jonquieres, working biodynamic principles on Larzac-foothill terroir.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Jonquieres by appointment
Signature wines: cal-demoura-terre-de-jonquieres, cal-demoura-les-combariolles, cal-demoura-l-infidele
Tip: Terre de Jonquieres is the appellation flagship; Les Combariolles is the older-vine prestige cuvee.
Terrasses du Larzac AOC and Languedoc Montpeyroux AOC and IGP Mont BaudileCarignan, Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Vermentino, Roussanne, Marsanne26 haFounded 1989Sylvain and Desiree FadatWinemaker Sylvain FadatDemeter CertifiedECOCERTTerrasses du Larzac
Five-generation Montpeyroux estate created in 1989 by Sylvain Fadat in the heart of the Terrasses du Larzac, 26 hectares of vines certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter, with the Cocalieres parcel at high altitude on the Larzac foothills.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Montpeyroux by appointment
Signature wines: aupilhac-le-carignan, aupilhac-la-boda, aupilhac-cocalieres
Tip: Le Carignan is a single-varietal old-vine Carignan (vines planted in 1947 on the Aupilhac home parcel); La Boda is the estate's prestige Terrasses du Larzac.
Terrasses du Larzac AOC and Languedoc AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Marsanne22 haPourtalie familyWinemaker Frederic PourtalieORGANIC CERTIFIEDTerrasses du Larzac
Terrasses du Larzac estate at Puechabon 30 km north-west of Montpellier, 22 hectares across Puechabon, Aniane, Saint-Jean-de-Fos and Saint-Saturnin-de-Lucian, run by Frederic Pourtalie with around 50,000 bottles a year.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Puechabon by appointment
Signature wines: montcalmes-rouge, montcalmes-blanc
Tip: Montcalmes Rouge (Syrah-Grenache-Mourvedre) is one of the longest-lived Terrasses du Larzac reds; the blanc (Roussanne-Marsanne) is a small allocation that is heavily back-vintaged.
Terrasses du Larzac AOC and Languedoc AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault11 haFounded 2004Karine Ahton and Robert DouganORGANIC CERTIFIEDTerrasses du Larzac
Terrasses du Larzac boutique estate founded in 2004 by Karine Ahton (lawyer) and Robert Dougan (Australian composer) at Saint-Saturnin-de-Lucian, 11 hectares between Mas de Daumas Gassac and La Grange des Peres, with international critical attention from Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Saint-Saturnin-de-Lucian by appointment
Signature wines: la-peira-la-peira, la-peira-las-flors, la-peira-matissat
Tip: La Peira (the namesake cuvee) is the Syrah-Grenache flagship; Las Flors and Matissat are the second labels.
Terrasses du Larzac AOC and Languedoc AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault, Vermentino, RoussanneORGANIC CERTIFIEDTerrasses du Larzac
Terrasses du Larzac estate at Saint-Jean-de-Fos near the Pont du Diable, certified organic and bottling under both the cru and the regional Languedoc AOC.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Saint-Jean-de-Fos by appointment
Signature wines: conscience-as-de-coeur, conscience-conscience, conscience-blanc
Tip: Conscience is the AOC Terrasses du Larzac flagship; As de Coeur is the second label that delivers most of the appellation expression at a lower price.
Terrasses du Larzac AOC and Languedoc Montpeyroux AOC and IGP Saint-Guilhem-le-DesertSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc18 haFounded 1987Teissedre and Commeyras familiesORGANIC CERTIFIEDTerrasses du Larzac
Montpeyroux estate created in 1987 by the Teissedre and Commeyras families at the foot of the Larzac foothills, 18 hectares across 22 parcels worked in organic agriculture.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Montpeyroux by appointment
Signature wines: aigueliere-velours, aigueliere-cote-doree, aigueliere-l-esprit
Tip: Velours (named for the silkiness of the wine) is the upper-tier Terrasses du Larzac; L'Esprit is the regular cuvee.
Terrasses du Larzac AOC and Languedoc AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Vermentino, ViognierGerard BertrandDemeter CertifiedORGANIC CERTIFIEDTerrasses du Larzac
Terrasses du Larzac estate at Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquiere acquired by Gerard Bertrand in 2011, at 300 metres altitude on the volcanic terraces of the Larzac, biodynamically cultivated since 2012 with Demeter certification on the wines from the 2015 vintage.
Tasting: Cellar tastings and on-site spa-hotel at Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquiere
Signature wines: sauvageonne-les-ruffes, sauvageonne-grand-vin-rouge, sauvageonne-grand-vin-blanc
Tip: Les Ruffes (named for the red volcanic ruffes soil) is the value Terrasses du Larzac; the Grand Vin Blanc shows the volcanic-soil white style.
Languedoc Gres de Montpellier AOC and Languedoc Saint-Georges-d'Orques AOC and IGP Pays de l'HeraultSyrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Carignan, Roussanne, Marsanne, Chardonnay, ViognierFounded 1997Thierry and Francoise HasardWinemaker Thierry HasardBiodynamic PracticingECOCERTTerrasses du Larzac
Languedoc estate at Murviel-les-Montpellier created in 1997 by Thierry and Francoise Hasard, organic from the outset and biodynamic since 2003, certified by Ecocert and Biodyvin.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Murviel-les-Montpellier by appointment
Signature wines: marfee-les-gamines, marfee-frissons-d-ombelles, marfee-les-vignes-qu-on-abat
Tip: Les Gamines is the Gres de Montpellier flagship; Frissons d'Ombelles is the rare white that punches well above its Languedoc price band.
Picpoul de Pinet AOC and Languedoc Gres de Montpellier AOC and IGP Pays d'OcPicpoul Blanc, Vermentino, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, CarignanORGANIC CERTIFIEDPicpoul de Pinet
Picpoul de Pinet and Languedoc estate at Montagnac inland from the Bassin de Thau, with both a single-variety Picpoul de Pinet and the cellar-aged Bronzinelle flagship.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Montagnac year-round
Signature wines: saint-martin-picpoul-de-pinet, saint-martin-bronzinelle, saint-martin-chateau-rouge
Tip: The Picpoul de Pinet is the appellation reference; Bronzinelle is the upper-tier Languedoc white that goes beyond the Picpoul style.
La Clape AOC and IGP Pays d'OcSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne96 haSaint-Exupery familyLa Clape
La Clape historic estate at Salles-d'Aude on the limestone massif between Narbonne and the sea, 96 hectares run by the Saint-Exupery family across five generations, with both reds and Bourboulenc-led whites under the La Clape PDO.
Tasting: Cellar tastings and on-site accommodation at the chateau at Salles-d'Aude
Signature wines: pech-celeyran-la-clape-rouge, pech-celeyran-la-clape-blanc
Tip: The La Clape blanc is the bottle to taste here, a Bourboulenc-led coastal white with the iodine signature unique to the massif.
La Clape AOC and IGP Pays d'OcSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Vermentino, RoussanneGerard BertrandDemeter CertifiedORGANIC CERTIFIEDLa Clape
La Clape flagship estate inside the limestone massif, acquired by Gerard Bertrand in 2002, with a five-star hotel, gastronomic restaurant, art space and tasting cellar on a single property, biodynamic across the vineyard.
Tasting: Cellar tastings, on-site five-star Chateau l'Hospitalet hotel, gastronomic restaurant, art space
Signature wines: hospitalet-grand-vin-rouge, hospitalet-grand-vin-blanc, hospitalet-summum
Tip: Chateau l'Hospitalet Grand Vin Blanc is the Bourboulenc-led La Clape signature white; the hotel pairs the wines with full Mediterranean menus.
La Clape AOC and IGP Pays d'OcSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, MarsannePaux-Rosset familyLa Clape
La Clape estate at Fleury directly facing the sea on the limestone massif, building a reputation for concentrated Syrah-Mourvedre reds and old-vine Bourboulenc-led whites under the Paux-Rosset family.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Fleury by appointment
Signature wines: negly-la-cote, negly-la-falaise, negly-l-ancely
Tip: L'Ancely (old-vine Carignan) is the cellar bottling that demonstrates La Clape's old-vine Carignan potential; La Falaise is the upper-tier red.
Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Picpoul, ChardonnayWalk-ins welcomeMas de Saporta, Lattes
Official Languedoc AOC tasting house at Mas de Saporta in Lattes, with 450+ wine references, free guided tastings of regional AOPs, an on-site shop and the Ecole des Vins du Languedoc.
Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, CinsaultWalk-ins welcomeSaint-Chinian village
Saint-Chinian appellation tasting house in an 18th-century building, presenting 250+ AOC Saint-Chinian wines alongside Muscats de Saint-Jean de Minervois and Cartagenes.
Carignan, Grenache, Mourvedre, SyrahWalk-ins welcomeBoutenac, Corbieres
Corbieres consortium tasting house at the Chateau in Boutenac, pouring AOP Corbieres and the communal AOP Corbieres-Boutenac built around old-vine Carignan from the Pinada massif.
Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, MourvedreWalk-ins welcomeHomps, Canal du Midi
Minervois appellation tasting house on the Canal du Midi at Homps, with around 200 references covering AOP Minervois plus the Minervois-La Liviniere cru and rotating winegrower tasting evenings.
Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, BourboulencWalk-ins welcomeLa Clape, Narbonne
Gerard Bertrand's flagship cellar on the La Clape massif outside Narbonne, with a tasting room pouring the Hospitalet Grand Vin range alongside other Bertrand domain selections.
Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, RoussanneWalk-ins welcomeSaint-Drezery, Gres de Montpellier
Puech-Haut tasting cellar in the Gres de Montpellier appellation north-east of Montpellier, with a barrel-art exhibit and Prestige range tastings led by the cellar master.
Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, ChardonnayAppointment onlyValflaunes, Pic Saint-Loup
Orliac family tasting room at the foot of the Hortus cliffs in the Pic Saint-Loup appellation, overlooking the vats and vineyard with cellar-door tastings of La Bergerie and Grande Cuvee.
Faugeres AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, CinsaultFounded 2007Cabrerolles, Faugeres
Sophie and Vincent Guizard's Faugeres estate working schist-slope parcels at Cabrerolles; HVE-certified since 2022.
Tip: Visits are by appointment; the schist-parcel cuvees show the canonical Faugeres profile.
Saint-Chinian AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, CinsaultFounded 1990Jean-Francois Izarn and Cathy PlanesBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDCausses-et-Veyran, Saint-Chinian
Natural-wine Saint-Chinian estate at Causses-et-Veyran working schist, gres and limestone single-soil cuvees, founded in 1990 by Cathy Planes and Jean-Francois Izarn.
Tip: The single-soil cuvee trio Les Crozes (gres), Les Schistes (schist) and Les Terres Blanches (limestone) is the Saint-Chinian terroir master class. Visits at the cellar by appointment.
Vin de FranceGrenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Mourvedre, AramonFounded 1987Jean-Francois 'Jeff' CoutelouBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDPuimisson, Herault
Cult Languedoc natural-wine estate working old-vine Aramon, Grenache and Syrah at Puimisson. No-sulphur bottlings move through specialist natural-wine cavistes worldwide.
Tip: Mas Coutelou wines are nearly impossible to find at retail; allocations move through specialist natural-wine cavistes (La Cave des Papilles in Paris). Direct estate contact for visits via the estate website.
Faugeres AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, CarignanFounded 2014Louise CottenceauBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDCabrerolles, Faugeres
Next-generation Faugeres estate at the Lentheric hamlet, working schist parcels biodynamically. Trained under Leon Barral.
Tip: Visits by appointment via the estate. Mas Lou's Mas Lou rouge and L'Equilibre cuvees show the schist terroir without the more rustic edge of older Faugeres styles.
Terrasses du Larzac AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, CinsaultFounded 2004Vincent Goumard and Isabelle GoumardBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDJonquieres, Terrasses du Larzac
Terrasses du Larzac quality reference at Jonquieres, working organic parcels on a mosaic of limestone, schist and basalt soils. The L'Infidele cuvee is the appellation benchmark.
Tip: Visits by appointment; the cellar in Jonquieres is small and group sizes are limited to under 10. Pair with a Mas Jullien visit (5 minutes' walk) for the canonical Terrasses du Larzac afternoon.
Corbieres AOCCarignan, Grenache, Mourvedre, SyrahEUR 10-14 retailstill-red
Domaine de Fontsainte at Boutenac is one of the longest-established names of Corbieres and produces a classic Carignan-led red at a benchmark sub-EUR15 price. The estate's old-vine Carignan parcels in the Boutenac sub-zone (with cru status since 2005) give the wine a brambly, peppery structure. Kermit Lynch has imported the estate since the 1980s.
Tip: The next-tier Fontsainte Reserve La Demoiselle Corbieres-Boutenac sits at around EUR20 and shows the cru terroir more clearly. The standard Corbieres is the budget benchmark for the appellation.
Saint-Chinian AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, CarignanEUR 16-22 retailstill-red
Mas Champart, built from 1988 by Isabelle and Mathieu Champart and acquired in late 2020 by Pascaline and Yves Bour, is one of the foundational quality-pioneers of Saint-Chinian. Causse du Bousquet is the estate's village-tier red, a Syrah-Grenache-Mourvedre blend from limestone parcels above Saint-Chinian town. Kermit Lynch has imported the estate since the early 1990s and it set the template for the modern Saint-Chinian style.
Tip: The estate's Clos de la Simonette cuvee sits at the next tier; Causse du Bousquet is the entry-point to the Saint-Chinian range under EUR20. The estate also makes a Cinsault-led rose worth tasting.
Corbieres AOCSyrah, Grenache, Carignan, MourvedreEUR 11-15 retailstill-red
Chateau de Caraguilhes is an Ecocert-certified organic Corbieres estate at Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, with around 110 hectares of vines on limestone-and-schist Corbieres soils. The 'Classique' rouge is the entry-tier Syrah-led blend at a sub-EUR15 organic price point, widely stocked across French supermarkets and supermarche bio chains.
Tip: The Caraguilhes Solus single-parcel Syrah is at the next tier. The Classique is the everyday-drinking organic Corbieres benchmark; pair with grilled lamb or cassoulet.
Pic Saint-Loup AOCSyrah, Grenache, MourvedreEUR 15-20 retailstill-red
Chateau de Lascaux's Jean-Benoit Cavalier farms around 80 hectares of certified-organic vines in the Pic Saint-Loup AOC. The standard Pic Saint-Loup rouge is a Syrah-led blend from limestone-clay parcels under the Pic Saint-Loup peak, with concentrated dark fruit and garrigue character. The estate is one of the appellation's quality-reference names at a sub-EUR20 entry tier.
Tip: Lascaux's higher-tier Les Nobles Pierres and Les Secrets cuvees sit above EUR25; the entry-tier Pic Saint-Loup is the everyday cuvee that established the estate's reputation.