Cabardes AOC and IGP Pays d'OcCabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Grenache, Syrah, Chardonnay, ViognierFounded 1620Lorgeril familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDCabardes
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, pennautier-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.
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.
