Wines and spirits Pyrénées-Orientales

At the foot of Canigou, on the terraces and hillsides of the Catalan country, the vineyard of Domaine Lafage is characterised by its very diversified grape varieties - muscat, chardonnay, sauvignon, syrah, mourvèdre, grenache noir... Experts in winemaking, it is in the four corners of the world that Eliane and Jean-Marc exerted and refined their art to assemble the flavours. Many times award-winning and especially in 2010, the wines from Domaine Lafage are among the jewels of the Roussillon region. In summer, you can discover the estate and its wines as well as local produce (cold meats, foie gras, cheeses, sweets) on the occasion of jazz evenings, Wednesdays from 8 pm until late at night, the atmosphere is very friendly.

Our favorite sommelier (11th in the 2018 competition) takes us on new adventures: a cellar, a wine bar and a dining cellar. Julien selects the best wines from here and elsewhere, looks for the best quality/price ratio and above all... we love him for all the sound advice he gives. The evening is the occasion for afterwork around tapas à la Barcelonaise to accompany a tasting. The place to be for an environment conducive to relaxation and enjoyment. Not forgetting the magical theme nights. We repeat, we love it!

At Josy and Luc's, it's the sun, the passion for the job and the love of the land that you discover at the bottom of a glass. The tasting cellar is at the top of the village and offers a breathtaking view of the bay! The Domaine Sant Jordi has a gîte and superb guest rooms and can host seminars or professional events. Finally, once the visit to the cellar is over, we advise you to come back to the seaside to taste the cuisine of La Table de Jordi. Le Futé fell in love with this couple of cheerful people with a big heart and lots of ideas!

This is the story of 3 wine-loving friends who dreamed of making a great nectar in Roussillon. The vineyard extends over 12 ha at the foot of the Tautavel cirque. Passion and know-how have been making the difference in the glass for about fifteen years. The Racine Carrée cuvées in white and red, aged between 8 and 12 months in barrels are simply magical. Emotion locked in a bottle and also emotion acclaimed by the specialized press! In the cellar, the adorable Ghislaine will make you taste the treasures of the domain and you will be conquered!

Domaine des Demoiselles is an old Catalan farmhouse overlooking the hills. Isabelle and Didier, a beautiful duo of passionate winemakers will talk to you about wine and love. They vinify the wines and take care of the work in the vineyard, and they both make one of the best bottles of the department according to connoisseurs. Elegant, fine and sometimes powerful, the Domaine's nectars leave no one indifferent as they are so singular. You can taste them in the old cellar with its thick stone walls and barrels lined up in the half-light. We fall in love with the Futé!

This vineyard, which has been in existence since 1897, today covers 23 hectares of land, mainly made up of Pliocene terraces: clay and sandy soils containing numerous quartz pebbles. Frédéric Belmas, who represents the^5th generation, cultivates 14 different grape varieties allowing for a variety of dry and sweet wines. The Mas Alart team is now involved in wine tourism and offers tours to help you discover the world of wine and its secrets in July and August. The Petit Futé had a big crush on this domain!

Craft breweries are springing up like mushrooms... and these new foams sometimes look a bit alike. But the Petit Futé has found you a unique product - one never seen before in the region. We love LFT, this beer has its own signature mouthfeel, and it's truly mesmerizing. 100% local and brewed with barley from the Cerdagne region, this frothy beer reminds us of the spirit of natural winegrowers. Sébastien, the founder, is an enthusiast and a born storyteller, and he's unstoppable... We drink his words amber, IPA or smoked - our favorite. You're sure to fall in love!

At Chateau Nadal Hainaut, viticulture has been a family affair for 5 generations. 49 ha out of 125 are converted to organic since 2013 and are cultivated on stony terraces surrounding the family property, a former Cistercian priory of the 12th century. The place is simply sublime: the tasting cellar, the reception room, the chapel or the park and its pond. We love the wines, the family and the place. So why not spend your vacations in the large gite installed in a wing of the priory in the heart of the vineyard. Magical!

Founded in 1290, this former convent, which almost fell into oblivion after the French Revolution, has been the property of the winegrowers of Collioure since 1926. The cellar groups together 160 winegrowers producing the great PDO wines of Banyuls and Collioure. A visit to the cellar is not only educational but also a delight for the eyes when you discover the tuns room located in the nave of the old 13th century church. A convent dedicated to wines, this is unique! The visit ends with a nice tasting.

V&B (pronounced "vi and bi") is a clever mix between an Irish pub on the one hand and a wine cellar on the other, under the principle of "two beers in one go", a formula that appeals! The motto of the house is: "here, beer democratizes wine and wine ennobles beer". You can choose from 350 different beers, German, Belgian, Canadian, Quebecois, French... and Catalan, 350 wines from independent producers and 200 whiskies, including some of the most surprising Japanese whiskies. You can rent beer taps for your parties.

The houses Delamain, Bouju and Frapin are well represented in this winery, which also offers armagnac. However, this wine cellar will be better advised for lovers of good wines as the choice of spirits is limited.

The visit of the oldest cellar of Banyuls takes place in a decor of old warehouse factory, with beautiful presses, old tuns dating from 1921 which constitute a real aromatic archive. You will also see a line of glass bottles allowing the wine to benefit from the sun between 8 and 12 months. Selections of vintages of all ages on Banyuls Grand Cru and Collioures are for sale at the winery. A star that shines very high in the sky in view of the numerous awards received each year.

On the black schist hills above Espira de l'Agly, Denis Sarda works his vines biodynamically, respecting the natural rhythm of the seasons. He adds: "At Vieux Chêne, it is the alchemy of a careful cultivation of the vine, the seriousness of the winemaker and his entire team. A brave mare, nicely named "Venise", helps Denis to look after the vines. The wines of the domain are the image of this boy, they breathe the garrigue and the love of work carried out in harmony with nature. They are straight and powerful, we love them!

On the heights of the Bay of Banyuls, Jean Christophe writes the history of Clos Castell day after day. "A good wine begins in the vineyard", says this goldsmith who makes niche wines that only the luckiest of people will be able to taste, as he only makes 8,000 bottles! The effect on the palate of his bottles is as striking as the view of the surrounding peaks! The absence of mechanical and chemical treatment preserves the aroma of his nectars. We discovered a character with a big heart, as we like them at the Petit Futé, an endearing purist, a nugget.

A successful conversion for this physics and chemistry teacher, who decided to take a new turn in his life. Laurent's beers are brewed with organic French malts and hops. Brewed on site, in the heart of Perpignan, the beers are unfiltered, unpasteurized and refermented in the bottle. As for alcohol content, the Boc is 5° for the white and 5.5° for the others. The best thing to do is to come and taste it directly at the brewery, a magical place where, between the clinking of glasses, good words and laughter flow.

This bodega (cellar) offers you good wine elaborated with passion by our Catalan wine growers, cheese and other gourmet products, but also conviviality and a lot of friendship in all simplicity. If you doubt it, just come every Sunday morning for the oyster and tapas aperitif. And every day, you can come to enjoy a glass of wine, a local beer and eat some tapas. Florence and José also organize from time to time concert aperitifs in the evening. A nice "good mood" address to remember.

Since 1998, the Cap d'Ona brewery has been producing a wide range of traditional blond and amber beers, both pure malt and white, as well as beers with the flavours of the Catalan terroir and an atypical southern character. Now named the best brewery in France and the most awarded, it was elected the best Belgian beer in the world in 2021. And recently, "Cap Si Gran" was voted best spirit in the world. The visit of the brewery allows to understand the different phases of the production, from the malt mill to the bottling.

Elodie and Mathieu bought this estate in 2016, which had existed for 5 generations. The particularity of this estate is that the vineyard extends over 3 different soils: clay and limestone in Tautavel, schists on Maury and quaternary pebbles in Ribéral. This diversity has given rise to a range of 13 different wines that are regularly selected in the Hachette Guide. So many stars and favourites that we get lost a little bit but our favourites are the Prieuré 2015 (Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel), a surprising red, very concentrated and also very fresh, the Maury garnet 2015 and the Maury sec 2016. You can taste all these beautiful bottles in the heart of the village, the cellar and the winemaking cellar located within the village between the two museums. Families are welcome in the cellar, Elodie and Mathieu provide children with a table with activities and colouring. Finally, because the limestone circus of Tautavel-Vingrau is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world (and I am weighing my words), this young couple full of ideas offers you a superb villa for rent in the heart of the vineyards. A domain, a village and a site to discover absolutely.

If today it is essentially a wine estate, it is above all the seat of the former Templar commandery of the region. The 60-year-old Carignan, Grenache and Maccabeu grape varieties are pampered to the extreme here and flourish on a clay-limestone terroir at an altitude of over 100 metres. The choice of organic farming was an obvious one. New at the château: In a wooded and historic setting of 3 hectares, come and discover the new domain of parrots, eagles and owls that will brush you with their wings during free flight demonstrations!

Château de Pézilla Arnaud de Villeneuve is attached to Cave Arnaud de Villeneuve de Rivesaltes. In the town, it brings nearly 170 winemakers together, and that represents 571 acres of vineyards on hillsides and terraces of schistous colluvial deposits and round pebbles, with acid soil of the quaternary era. The reliefs are very uneven. The few flagship products to discover in the vault are the over-aged Amber Rivesaltes that accumulates many awards; muscat 2008 received the large gold medal at the muscat of the world, and the wine of the Marquise, a round and feminine fruity red.

With the restaurant La Table d 'Aimé, here is another establishment of the Cazes house in Rivesaltes. Nothing but liquid, but it's solid! In this beautiful place, the cellar houses the bottles of Domaine Lhéritier, which have been handed over for four generations, natural sweet wines (muscat, amber, tug and out of age), as well as wines from countries and Côtes du Roussillon. Prices are sweet to make fun of. The visit is worth it, as well as tasting. Paintings of local artists are clinging to the cimaises, with always a sound background that delights the epicurians and fans of opera.

A little outside Thuir, the castle of Saü is a beautiful property exploited since 1840 by the same family. Herve and Béatrice Passama are now lovers of reasoned cultivation. Regularly awarded, the wines of Saü are worth visiting: the over-aged amber AOC Rivesaltes fulfills all the promises of its appellation. The same for the red côtes-du-Roussillon, whose original vintage, prepared for mass distribution in partnership with the JeanJean company, is a success. The reserved vintage is sold at the Estate.

Renowned for its Vin Doux Naturel, Maury offers a range of around twenty wines, regularly praised by the specialist press, including a very fine range of dry wines. More than 100 winegrowers are cooperators and they not only spend their time in the vineyards, they are invested in the life of the cellar. You will be able to meet them in the cellar during a tasting session and exchange with them about a common passion: the earth and the fruit it distils. Finally, the Vignerons de Maury organise events around wine every year.

Gustumo, from Esperanto, means "the sense of taste", so we know why we enter this nice and friendly wine cellar. Jean-Philippe will advise you if you need to build up a cellar and in the same way for your food and wine pairings. You can trust him, he is a wine lover and he knows his products perfectly. A delicatessen corner (Banyuls and Maury vinegars, tapenade, foies gras) will help you with small gifts and last minute refined attentions. A place full of life and madness animated by a passionate person.

Tasting is a pleasure in this trendy wine-shop. Olivier, a young wine merchant and great connoisseur, will give you the advice you need. In his attractive light wood décor, you'll discover over 800 references, some of them exclusive to Collioure: Rectorie, Préceptorie, Gardiès, Clos des Fées, Gauby, Abbé Rous, Côtes d'Agly, Pithon de Calce, in short, the department's finest winemakers. All at estate prices. During the school vacations, tastings are organized every day. Everything is on their Facebook page.

A microbrewery in Haut Vallespir created by Pierre Godron, a brewer by profession in his native Belgium and creator of the famous Chouffe. In 2021, he joined forces with a compatriot who had been living in Vallespir for many years, and bought the former Hôtel des Voyageurs in Prats de Mollo. There, he created a blond beer, a skilful brew of hops and barley with aromas of bread and apricot: "La Senyor Voltor". Named after a vulture that, according to legend, only the bears of Vallespir could see. A Belgian beer with beautiful Catalan notes!

Patrice welcomes you all week long to his shop, cellar and tapas house to take you on a trip to the land of regional wines and a little further afield. You will find products for all budgets and above all the advice of the owner is invaluable. What we like about Patrice's cellar are the activities organized every Thursday: meeting a winegrower who introduces his babies and chatting with him over a drink. There are also activities, theme evenings, in short, this place is full of life. We also offer tapas in fast food every evening and, a rare occurrence, the wines you taste are free of corkage duty. A great initiative to build customer loyalty.

The estate's 60 hectares are farmed with respect for the land and the life it generates, and are HVE-certified. Clos Saint-Georges is one of the few estates in the Roussillon where you can find old vintages of still red wines. As Claude confirms: "You have to let the wine rest and evolve. Last but not least, the Ortal family are simple, welcoming people who love to share and exchange. They regularly organize events around wine and culture. We especially like the superb 4 épis gite and its swimming pool.

The vineyard of Calce is located on the slopes of the Agly valley and benefits from an excellent exposure. The village is surrounded by vines that flourish on hills of limestone or schist. The winegrowers of Calce are the soul of the village wines and they claim it. Few cooperative wineries have such a soul and such strength. Few vintages, a minimalist choice to focus on quality. Taste them all, they are delicious, surprising and enchanting!

Bernard Sapéras is in love with his vineyard, he knows all its history and talks about it like a true storyteller. As for his wines, they are true poems, deep, ample and rich with iodine, spicy or floral notes in which the garrigue and its scents of fennel and pinewood stand out. Finally, as this Côte Vermeille is simply enchanting, you must stay several days to discover it and stay at the Clos Saint André which has 3 superb guest rooms where traditional architecture and design are combined.

The village of Caramany dominates its vineyards of old carignan and grenache vines planted on the slopes of gneiss and granite arenas. Here life is centred around wine and you can feel it when you visit the cellar. The winegrowers welcome you with professionalism and passion for the terroir. The wines of the AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Caramany are very singular: they are powerful, spicy and fleshy. Among the AOP of Roussillon, we recognize a "Caramany" right away, we like this difference in the nose and in the mouth, this well-soaked character of Catalan!

The wines of La Rectorie are ahead of their time, but are also entirely faithful and respectful of Catalan traditions and know-how. When you taste the estate's wines, you will be surprised by their depth and great finesse. True "mealtime" wines, they are perfect for highlighting the beautiful, refined and sunny Catalan gastronomy. La Rectorie is much more than a vineyard or an estate, it is an institution and all the connoisseurs will tell you that it is here that one of the best wines of the department is produced.

The vineyard of this group extends over 980 ha. The wines are produced on clay-limestone soils and schistose marl, with very low yields and under sustainable management. In the land of the oldest man in Europe, Corinne and Michel welcome you to the cellar to help you discover a wide range of robust, powerful and fruity wines. All the news of the cellar, the walks in the vineyards and other events related to wine tourism can be followed online.

Domaine des Chênes is an agricultural estate located in Vingrau, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department. It offers a wide range of wines, including red, sweet and white. The estate is surrounded by vineyards and benefits from a terroir that is ideal for growing grapes. The estate showcases some of its wines, such as "Les Grands Mères", a red wine made from the estate's oldest Carignan vines, and "Tuilé", a sweet wine made from the estate's oldest Grenache vines.

Well rooted in the Collioure tradition, the Piétri-Géraud estate has the know-how of 5 generations of winegrowers, and today it is 2 women, Maguy and Laetitia, who hold the reins of the estate. 20 hectares, 16 of which are on schistous terraces, a harsh terroir with a strong identity. The wines are vinified and stored in the heart of the village. In dry or sweet wine, the vintages of the domain are to be discovered. Special mention to the old vintages of Banyuls. The specialized press is not mistaken and regularly rewards the nectars of the domain.

Hundred-year-old Carignan, old Grenache and elegant Syrah on the gneiss and schist slopes of Latour convinced Jacques de Chancel to live out their passion here. In 2001, he decided to name their adventure Ausseil ("bird" in Occitan). Their 12-hectare vineyard is carefully tended, using methods that preserve the natural balance in both vine growing and winemaking. The result is harmonious, subtle Cotes-du-Roussillon-Villages and Muscat-de-Rivesaltes wines.

The Domaine de Rancy has been a family affair for a century. Each generation has brought its own personal and innovative touch to the management of the vines and the wine-making process. Respect for the earth in the work: zero chemical inputs and ploughing by horse on certain plots. The wines are available in three colours and in Vins Doux Naturels (which has made their reputation). Over the years, the wines of Domaine de Rancy have been increasingly acclaimed by the specialist press, particularly their sweet wines, which have received numerous awards.

On soils composed of schist, gneiss, granitic and clay-limestone arenas, the winegrowers of the "cave coop" (founded in 1920) produce beautiful nectars and it is often said that the best of the department are born in the area. In addition to the often medal-winning dry wines, you will discover Rivesaltes and Muscats de Rivesaltes. 14 vintages in total for all tastes and budgets. To come to Latour is to make an escapade in a wild and authentic land.

The Garrigue family does not joke with ecology. Mont-noir comes from the name of the village "Montner", located at the foot of Força Real, a mountain covered with black schist. In the heart of this terroir, which looks east to the sea and west to the mountains, the 20 hectare vineyard produces truly delicious wines. In order to make you better acquainted with their wines and their land, this family has launched into wine tourism and offers you gourmet walks to discover the vineyard. A passion that they love to share and pass on.

Domaine Pons Gralet is an 8-hectare estate on a human scale, which has been organically farmed since 2002, and has recently introduced biodynamic principles. The Agly valley, like the Côte Vermeille, is one of the regions with the lowest wine yields in France. This dry, windy climate is ideal for growing vines, particularly in organic conditions, and means that chemical inputs are kept to a minimum. The estate is scattered over several small, juxtaposed territories: Montner, Tautavel and Maury. As a result, the diversity of clay-limestone, schist, pebble and schist basalt soils enhances the diversity of aromas found in the wines. "Each of our vineyards is located in a specific appellation: Côtes du Roussillon Villages for the reds, Côtes du Roussillon for the whites and rosés, and of course Rivesaltes and Maury for the VDNs," explains Christian. The family claims to be "paysanne-vigneronne" and will welcome you in the purest Catalan tradition for a tasting of all their nuggets at the cellar in the village center. Not to be missed: the estate's wine tourism offer is well worth a visit.

Just a stone's throw from the Castillet, Nasser, a connoisseur of bottles and gourmet products, welcomes you to his boutique, offering a fine range of fine wines and champagnes. Enjoy fine tapas accompanied by wines from the cellar... and take in the view of the Castillet from the balcony. In his new bodega, Nasser has thought of everything to give you a real bacchic moment. Ideas abound, and he regularly pulls new recipes out of his hat. The winemakers are there too, where you can taste, share and enjoy life! Le Petit Futé loves it.

Mas Amiel is a winery well worth a visit. What's more, the estate also offers tours to discover the secrets of winemaking and even offers the chance to customize your own wine.

The Rieu family produces fresh and elegant wines from high altitude terroirs in Fenouillèdes (Tarerach granite plateau), with a wide range of grape varieties including the rare Vermentino, Carignan gris and Lladoner Pelut, not forgetting the "roussillonnais" grape varieties. Like our colleagues, we were seduced by the freshness and finesse of these wines. Alexandre and Fabrice invite you to the cellar of Argelès to discover their nuggets and especially to share their passion with you. Le Petit Futé had a big crush on these two brothers.

With a hundred years of history, the Vignerons de Trémoine cellar brings together 80 winegrowers from 4 villages: Rasiguères, Lansac, Planèzes and Cassagnes. They take care of the vines on a rich and varied land of 500 ha. The territory of the Vignerons de Trémoine is a geological mosaic: black schist, granitic arenas, clay-limestone soils... During the tasting at the cellar, you will be delighted by the welcome and the sense of hospitality that are part of these rural values.

In Cassagnes, a small village perched on a plateau between 300 and 400 m, the very specific terroir, composed of gneiss, is conducive to the production of fine, fresh and elegant wines. Organic since 2015, the Modat family continues its quest for excellence by working 15 hectares according to the principles of biodynamics. A philosophy based on listening and observing natural cycles. The wines of the Modat family are surprising and seductive and the clichés that stick to the skin of Roussillon wines are shattered. We loved it!

In the heart of the highlands of Fenouillèdes, Eric has been running a 50 hectare organic estate on granitic arena soils for the past twenty years. Sunshine and freshness characterize this magnificent and wild high altitude terroir. From the work in the vineyard to the bottling, Eric observes the greatest respect for the biotope and strives to never break the balance between nature and the winemaker. Eric's vintages quickly attracted the attention of the specialist press, which praised this goldsmith. And Le Futé loves it. A guaranteed favourite!

In the heart of one of the world's most beautiful valleys - the Synclinal de Saint-Paul de Fenouillet - Aude and Franck run an organic vineyard of 15 hectares of vines and 2 hectares of fruit trees on limestone and schist soils. The grape varieties include the great classics of Roussillon. The story began in 1987, with the parents Pascale and Yves farming a few vines on a tenant basis, and then more and more, while running a professional business in parallel. 15 years of vinification in a cooperative cellar, then in 2003 in their own cellar. Patience and hard work... and today the children Aude and Franck are carrying on the tradition! Both generations are proud of their work and commitment. For tasting, we recommend the Cuvée de Franck, a 100% Carignan, a full-bodied juice to be drunk with dishes in sauce, and the Cuvée de Gabin 100% Maccabeu, very fruity and excellent as an aperitif. By appointment, you'll be given a full tour of the estate and, of course, a tasting session.

Domaine Boudau is a family story that goes back to the beginning of the last century. This sun-drenched estate extends over clay-limestone soils at different altitudes, which allow the family's favourite grape variety, Grenache noir, to express itself perfectly. We fell in love with the red wines Le Clos (very greedy and round) and Patrimoine (more fresh and delicate). The same grape variety and yet two different wines - superb! The conversion to organic is the consecration for this domain regularly acclaimed by the great tasters.

Raymond and Caroline manage their 12-hectare vineyard in the most natural way possible, without chemical inputs, just a little sulphur and essential oils. "We want to let biodiversity express itself", they insist. This couple, in love with life in the broadest sense and with love itself (read the labels, the art of seduction is broken down into stages for each cuvée), offers surprising wines that are so different and so endearing: the Petit Futé has fallen in love with this estate and its delightful bottles.

On a terroir of exceptional schist (Maury) and limestone (Tautavel), Nathalie and Simon produce a range of wines that reflect these two different terroirs. The tasting is done in the superb cellar located on the first floor and which offers behind its large bay window a beautiful view of the Canigó. And what a tasting! We love it as much as the specialized press! At the mas de la Devèze, we love this epinal image of the Catalan farm isolated in the middle of the vineyards. The place has a crazy charm which is completed by the kindness of the wine growers. We love it!