Gaillac is a particularly interesting region in terms of wine. Despite its geographically blessed coastal neighbour Bordeaux’s efforts to keep it down, it is one of the oldest wine making regions in France, dating back to the Roman times. It henceforth has a variety of interesting and well adapted indigenous varietals. It is influenced by the Atlantic to the west, bringing moisture, the Mediterraneran to the south, bringing warmth, and the cool winds that come from the mountains to the east.
Sylvie, Philippe and their sons Pierre and Hyppolite manage their 70 hectares as a proper working farm, 20 hectares is under vine whilst the rest is grassland for their organic beef cattle, lentils and ancient grains for bread. For Philippe and Sylvie, raising animals and making wine are symbiotic - the cows become an integral part of caring for the vines and their manure is an important base for the compost that they prepare to fertilise the vines.
Vines are planted on a variety of terroirs including sand, schist, clay, limestone and worn pebbles. They grow Duras, Fer Servadou, Prunelard, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Loin de L’oeil, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. The wines that Sylvie and Philippe produce are vinified either in fibreglass tanks or concrete vats. They are pure, honest and rustic yet sing of where they’re from and always have a freshness and above all drinkability.
