IGP Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert and IGP HeraultCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tannat, Viognier, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Petit Manseng44 haFounded 1971Guibert familyWinemaker Samuel GuibertTerrasses du Larzac
Aniane estate founded in 1971 by Aime and Veronique Guibert on the Gassac valley's glacial-powder geology, classified IGP Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert and IGP Herault rather than AOC across 44 hectares of vines amid roughly 4,000 hectares of surrounding Mediterranean forest. Aime Guibert died in 2016 and the estate is now run by sons Samuel, Gael, Roman and Basile Guibert, with Samuel as head winemaker.
Tasting: Cellar tour and tasting at Aniane Monday to Saturday year-round
Signature wines: daumas-gassac-rouge, daumas-gassac-blanc, daumas-gassac-faune
Tip: Mas de Daumas Gassac Rouge is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend that routinely ages 25 to 40 years; the white (Viognier-Chardonnay-Petit Manseng) is a small-allocation cellar candidate.
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 IGP Pays d'OcPicpoul Blanc, Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah, VermentinoFounded 1983Jourdan familyWinemaker Claude JourdanPicpoul de Pinet
Reference Picpoul de Pinet producer on the Bassin de Thau at Meze, owned by the Jourdan family since 1983 and run by female winemaker Claude Jourdan, regularly placed in the Decanter top-Picpoul tastings.
Tasting: Cellar tastings Monday to Friday 8am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm by appointment
Signature wines: felines-jourdan-picpoul-classique, felines-jourdan-cuvee-particuliere, felines-jourdan-felinette
Tip: The basic Picpoul de Pinet is the gateway; the Cuvee Particuliere shows the upper-tier expression of the variety.
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.
Picpoul de Pinet AOC and IGP Pays d'OcPicpoul Blanc, Picpoul Noir, Picpoul Gris, Cinsault, Syrah, GrenachePicpoul de Pinet
Picpoul specialist at Castelnau-de-Guers, the only estate vinifying Piquepoul in all three colours (Picpoul Blanc, Picpoul Gris and Picpoul Noir), housed in an 18th-century restored stable.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Castelnau-de-Guers by appointment
Signature wines: grangette-la-part-des-anges, grangette-l-enfant-terrible, grangette-blanc-bleu
Tip: La Part des Anges (oak-fermented Picpoul) is the connoisseur's bottle; the rare Picpoul Noir red is a curiosity worth tasting at the cellar.
Picpoul de Pinet AOC and IGP Pays d'OcPicpoul Blanc, Cinsault, Syrah, GrenachePicpoul de Pinet
Picpoul de Pinet estate at Castelnau-de-Guers less than 10 km from the Mediterranean, exporting widely to the UK, US and Canadian markets and one of the most-distributed Picpoul names on the international shelf.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Castelnau-de-Guers year-round
Signature wines: reine-juliette-picpoul-de-pinet, reine-juliette-terres-rouges
Tip: The basic Picpoul de Pinet is the export workhorse; the Terres Rouges Picpoul shows the cellar-aged style.
