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.
Signature wines: Grand Vin Rouge, 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.
Address: Route de Narbonne Plage, 11100 Narbonne, France, Languedoc
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: La Cote, La Falaise, 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.
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: La Cote, La Falaise, 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.
Cabardes flagship estate at Pennautier just north of Carcassonne, run by the Lorgeril family since 1620, working the Atlantic-meets-Mediterranean Cabardes AOC blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Syrah) on the Black Mountain foothills.
Tasting: Cellar tour, gardens visit and tasting at Pennautier; on-site restaurant
Signature wines: Pennautier Classique Rouge, Terroirs d'Altitude, Pennautier Collection Privee
Tip: Terroirs d'Altitude is the prestige Cabardes that shows the Atlantic-Mediterranean blend clearly; the chateau and gardens are open for tour year-round.
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: Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée Rouge, Bergerie de l'Hortus Rouge, Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée 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.
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: Les Nobles Pierres, Les Secrets, 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.
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: L'Arbouse, La Grenadière, Les Mûriers
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.
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: Les Tonillières, L'Orphée, 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.
Discover the secrets behind the wine making of Château Capion wines with a guided tour. Taste all wines from the vineyard.
Discover the wines of Languedoc with a tasting and a fun wine quiz 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Enjoy seeing Montpellier with a local guide. See the city center, and try local wines and specialties, including fresh seafood and regional cheeses, fougasse, pastries...
Wine tastings and winery visits in Languedoc (25) · Wine tours and day trips in Languedoc (18)
