Wines and spirits Pyrénées-Orientales

The vineyard is planted on 40 hectares of clay-gravel and sandy-gravel soils and includes a wide variety of grape varieties, respecting the biotope as the estate has been organic since 2013. Océane, Jules and Romain (Jules is the future oenologist who is still a baby) perpetuate the tradition that has made the reputation of the estate while bringing "a touch of freshness and innovation" (says Romain) expressed through a new range of wines. A young couple full of ambition but also of simplicity to whom we wish a long life in wine.

Translate "Tête de bois", this high place of the wine history of Roussillon, both anchored in the tradition and turned to the future, extends on 90 ha cultivated on stony clayey grounds. In the coolness of the " cayrous " cellar, you can taste a wide range of white, red, rosé and natural sweet wines. It is possible to visit the cellar during the summer season and to learn about wine tasting. Taking advantage of the beautiful volumes of the place, Cap de Fouste hosts jazz and opera concerts. And throughout the year events and theme evenings.

Domaine Sol Payré is a must for wine lovers. In addition to its restaurant, which serves meals on site, the estate also has a cellar where you can buy their wines. Domaine Sol Payré offers a wide selection of wines, from vins doux naturels to reds, whites and rosés. Cuvées include Vertigo 2020, Memento 2020, Trilogia 2021, Ater 2018, Sacré Numéro Rosé 2022, Ivresse des Sens Blanc 2022, Rosae 2022, Imo Pectore 2020, Scelerata 2020, Albae 2021, Rivesaltes Hors d'Age and Muscat de Rivesaltes 2022. Magnums are also available according to availability and vintage.

On soils made up of a mixture of schist, quartz and red clay, the estate has magnificent vines of syrah, grenache, roussanne, marsanne and muscat. The work in the vineyard is clean and respectful of the environment. Mas Cristine's wines are all elegant, powerful and generous for the reds, fresh and mineral for the whites. Finally, the Mas Cristine regularly organizes wine events, days or evenings not to be missed under any pretext to taste one of the great wines of Roussillon.

The Vignerons du Vallespir is a group of 70 winegrowers who have adhered to the values of cooperation since 1949. The vineyard extends from Céret at the gates of Vallespir to Le Boulou and includes some villages in the Aspres at the foot of the Albères. This variety of terroir can be found in the wines, which range from the fruitiest to the most robust. In summer, special tastings are organized as well as a village market in the streets of Le Boulou on Thursday and Sunday mornings.

The identity of this plural land of Aspres is found in the wines of Virginie and André which are regularly highlighted by the specialized press. This couple in love with everything, and also very much in love with life and a disciple of Rabelais (and a bit of Hendrix too...), made us fall in love. The reputation of the domain is also due to the unforgettable parties that it organizes all year long. To name just one, the Jeudis de la Perdrix (tasting, grilling, music and partying until late) have become an institution in the region.

The^250m2 sales area (and its large car park) will seduce you with its choice of carefully selected winemakers. Steve and Jess spend their time tasting bottles, so you can trust them! The philosophy of this shop is to offer wines at producer prices. The other strength of Vincoeur Catalan is their online site where you can place orders and which is full of treasures. We particularly liked the richness of the content not only on the wines but also on each producer. Hats off to them!

The Domaine Saint Thomas covers 25 hectares of vines, 3 hectares of cherry trees, 3 hectares of apricot trees and 3 hectares of olive trees. In season, come to the estate to harvest your cherries and buy their fruits at the cellar. Laurence and Pierre Jean are dedicated to wine tourism: 3 rural gîtes (4 épis), rental of a 90-seat winegrower's room, guided tours of the estate all summer, Wine Tour in a 4X4 in the Collioure vineyards with picnic and tasting... But the strength of the Domaine Saint Thomas lies in its 3 wine-growing terroirs, which offer a complete range of wines for all tastes and budgets.

On the terraces of Canigó or the granite hills of Fenouillèdes, the territory of Terres Romanes is rich and varied. This mountain vineyard has thus rediscovered its ancestral identity, from the time when the vine was present at altitude on the sunny slopes. The Terres Romanes team offers tasting and initiation courses. More for pleasure than for technique, the free workshops for adults and children allow you to desacralize the world of wine.

The Côtes d'Agly cooperative cellar reflects the astonishing mosaic of terroirs in the Agly valley. The result of the merger of 5 cellars in the Agly valley (Estagel, Montner, Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet, Caudiès-de-Fenouillèdes and Lesquerde), the Côtes d'Agly winegrowers' cellar is now one of the leading AOC Côtes du Roussillon winegrowing cooperatives, with more than 250 winemakers. It is also called the cellar with 7 appellations for the diversity of the wines it offers for sale. The choice is vast and delicious and the welcome very friendly.

Marc comes from a long winemaking tradition. Continuously, the sea entries come to refresh the vine and give it precious humidity. The marriage between the Mediterranean climate and the very stony soils gives his wines a strong typicity. We loved the Grande Terre Rouge cuvée made from two neighbouring plots of old vines (Syrah and Grenache Noir). Let's not forget to mention the new "original version" cuvée without sulphites - nothing but fruit on the palate! A supple and greedy wine full of freshness. A sure value!

In the heart of a 40 hectare wine estate planted with centuries-old vines, and which extends its lands on pebbled terraces overlooking the nearby sea, Cathy and Philippe welcome you in 2 gîtes adjoining their house, an authentic Catalan farmhouse. Les Vendangeurs can accommodate 9 people in an independent house, nicely furnished. Les Porteurs, ideal for 6 people, is nestled in the luxuriance of the bougainvillea. Charm and fantasy, warm or acidic tones and beautiful materials will make you want to stay longer.

At the Cellier des Arcades, the emphasis is on the wines of the department and on organic wine. From April to July, two Saturdays a month, in this beautiful house with its vaulted ceiling and stone walls made of Tech pebbles, Henri organises beautiful tastings in the presence of the winegrower to help you discover a domain. When we ask him to name his favourite vintages, he replies: "impossible to answer, I like everything! ». A good address to accompany the good and delicious local products brought back from the famous market of Céret.

The Jordi and Dorian siblings have been practicing organic farming for 10 years on 20 ha of vines, 3 ha of olive trees and 1 ha of almond trees. "Organic is hard work" but they are proud of this philosophy and will be happy to discuss it with you during a tasting at the cellar. And speaking of vines, perhaps they will show you the way to this parcel where the majestic juniper tree, which is 1,600 years old, is enthroned in its heart. A beautiful family adventure and committed winemakers!

Olivier and Lionel really insist on the wines of Roussillon. It is true that our beautiful country has delicious nectars, especially an exceptional variety. Don't ask for a Roussillon wine, ask for advice on a Roussillon terroir. Experience and love of the profession will do the rest. Also local products (delicatessen) and seasonal fruit and vegetables. Finally, the Jardin Catalan organizes meetings with winegrowers, tastings, aperitifs... a real range of bacchanals.

Léia and Eric make wines that surprise and delight us. Their juices are the image of this high altitude terroir of Fenouillèdes composed of granite and gneiss: mineral, a little animal and frankly addictive! Now converted to bio-dynamics and natural wine making, this couple collects awards and praise in specialized magazines. The famous La Compagnie des Papillons vintage is a real master stroke according to the experts. A domain to discover absolutely in the heart of a magical and bewitching landscape.

Attention jewel and colorful character. As much as we love his wines, we love Gilles' glibness, the special way he talks about his work, his love of the land and the farming world. And then when he fills your glass, something magical really happens. To quote a colleague, "his vintages perfectly combine density, greed and freshness". He proposes confidential but ultra precise wines, and above all wines that have presence, like him. The specialized press loves him and we, at the Petit Futé, adore him!

More than just a 14-hectare estate already recognised and praised by the specialist press, the Coume del Mas is a philosophy in which the word terroir takes on its full meaning. "From the fusion between man and his environment, a precious wine is born". We would not advise you to choose one vintage over another, everything is delicious and to be enjoyed without moderation. Fine and elegant wines that you must absolutely discover, all the more so as from the cellar adjoining the Domaine les Tines (and the famous Mémé Jeanette) the view over the slopes and the sea is breathtaking!

The Domaine de Vénus is a story of friendship that has evolved into a desire to create fine organic wines on 34 hectares of varied terroirs in Fenouillèdes. Most of the vines are located around Saint-Paul on a so-called high altitude terroir. The estate's wines seduce with their freshness and balance and shatter the clichés about Roussillon wines. The group of friends has chosen to offer the consumer wines that are "ready to drink", i.e. after long maturation in the bottle... because time does wonders with wine. To be discovered!

The Pagnon family has been established for 5 generations between the sea and the mountains on limestone soils, and has made the noble choice of organic farming for its vines and to diversify by planting apricot trees and 5 hectares of olive trees. We enjoy their wines as much as their apricot juice, Muscat grape juice and prickly pear nectar, and especially their extra virgin olive oil from the arbequine variety. In summer, they organize winegrowers' evenings, aperitifs and concerts, and offer the possibility of visiting their estate (upon reservation).

Clos Massotte is a small 7-hectare estate nestled in the heart of the fertile Aspres region. Pierre Olivier is a poet in love with the living world, who runs his vineyard with the utmost respect for the environment. He has as much love for people as he does for his vines, which he pampers and cuddles: "Nature invites me every day to satisfy her desires and create fruit in her image". As the years go by, his wines are always surprising and unclassifiable. They stand out from traditional flasks and explore new, intuitive avenues. Unclassifiable and waiting to be discovered!

A very small estate of 4 ha which is on the rise. A small estate that has chosen to produce organic and natural wine: no chemical inputs and only living things! The cellar is in Céret but the vines are on the foothills of the Albères on sandy and stony soils. Hervé, a great defender of ecology, pampers his vines from the foot of the vine to the glass. We like his wines because they are real and free of any intervention... they are alive! We love the labels and the names of the vintages, there is poetry in them. A winemaker to follow.

This vast estate of 130 ha is named after the family of the famous economist Alfred Sauvy to whom it belonged. The 60 hectares of vines grow on quaternary terraces: clay and gravel soils typical of the Roussillon region. At Mas Sauvy, you are welcomed almost as if in a castle. The buildings, the park and its pond are just like your hosts: full of charm and delicacy. In the tasting cellar, Suzanne, Maité, Louis and Ludovic will be delighted to tell you all about the history of the château and help you discover the entire range of wines.

Laurianne, a "100% pure-juice Catalan from the Aspres", uses a minimalist approach to concentrate quality: 2 hectares on clay-limestone soils, manual harvesting in crates, meticulous table sorting, micro-vinifications and small cuvées. With her oenologist, who is a woman, "we have the same sensibility", she confides. Laurianne is proud of her roots, and knows she can count on the support, knowledge and experience of her family... The boldness, passion and love of life that we see in her wines won us over!

A mountain vineyard, terraced on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Pic Joan has just over 7 hectares of vines, all of which are over 60 years old. In three colours and as a sweet wine, the wines of this estate are a real delight that you can taste in the cellar or at the sales-restaurant. Every evening between June and October, the wines of the estate are served with a napkin around the neck at the winegrowers' table. Mineral and aromatic wines in perfect harmony with carefully selected dishes. An estate and a family to discover.

It's hard to find anything more natural than the wines of France (that's the winemaker's first name): organic label, biodynamic practices and zero sulphite or fining! She says it herself with confidence: "I want free, lively and vibrant wines! ». A dozen hectares on the gneiss and granite of the Haut-Fenouillèdes which produce atypical wines: fruity like natural wines, but also fine and elegant. We love this dynamic winemaker who cultivates difference and freedom. France knows what she wants... and she will go far.

On a clay-limestone soil, traditional Roussillon grape varieties and olive trees are planted. "We are attentive to the impact we can have on the environment and biodiversity," insist the winegrowers when commenting on their HVE label. The wines of this estate are rather fruity on the nose with a complexity on the palate for the whites and rosés and a nice structure for the reds. Few vintages, just the 3 colours, but it's really good!

In Opoul, a small Catalan village clinging to the last limestone foothills of the Corbières, and dominated by the castle of Perillos which watches over the Roussillon plain, Sophie and Cyril run a small organic vineyard of 5 ha. The soil is stony, the climate dry and harsh, not to mention the tramontane wind that blows. Respect for the land and meticulous work are the obvious choice for Sophie and Cyril in order to produce very aromatic and concentrated wines. A lot of freshness and finesse in a country where water is so rare that it has its own festival.

In the region, before small breweries sprang up everywhere, there were two local beers: Cap d'Ona and Alzine. The latter is produced by a craft brewery in Marquixanes, after moving from Bouleternère. Since 2009, l'Alzina has been trying to revive age-old traditions in which aromatic plants, fruit, spices and carefully selected hops are used to create beverages that are off the beaten track. Our beers come in blond, white, amber and brown. We love these unique beers!

On the first foothills of the Corbières, in the middle of rocky terrain, scrubland and pine forests, the parcels - 50 hectares in total - of the estate follow the natural physiognomy of the site: hills, steep slopes and plains. Concerned about the health of the earth that gives life to his vines, Laurent has chosen to run his estate biodynamically as a matter of course. His wines, full of sunshine and with accents of the garrigue, are rich and tasty, just like this young man who never tires of pleading for a healthy and responsible viticulture.

Mantet, a high altitude village at the end of the world that we love because it's quiet (really quiet) has just opened a craft brewery. Senglar is a pretty hoppy beer born in 2016, alternately blonde, brown or amber. This beer is different, a bit offbeat and delicious, as it's made with water from the Mantet spring and local herbs. A mini brewery on the ground floor of the family home for a mini village, but a maxi devotion and love of work well done. To be tasted fresh after a nice hike!

"The idea of the estate is to make wines that are close to the terroir, digestible with as little screen as possible between the grape and the glass"! With these few words, Stéphane sums up the whole philosophy of his estate, his work and his wines. At Domaine Léonine, we like to joke when we taste, but we don't joke with the work of the wine, which can be summed up in three words: nature, nature and still nature. Nature wine? Natural wine ? Organic wine ? No, all three at the same time and biodynamic please. For this couple who have been living here for 15 years, one of the keys to the success of organic agriculture is to observe the vine: "See how it reacts, lives and monitors its health. To be preventive rather than curative. "And the result lives up to the message: a round, fresh and true juice! One feels like closing one's eyes when tasting this wine, so close to the earth, to this granite arena soil which makes the nobility of the Albères. Enough poetry and let's get to the facts: we recommend Chuck Barrick in red or Que Pasa in white among the moderately priced wines. As for the great vintages from old vines, they are both fresh and powerful.

Philippe Modat and wine is a love story that goes back to childhood. Coming from a long line of winegrowers. One day, as a matter of course, he wanted to give birth to his wine, which he wanted to be rich, silky and unforgettable. To do this, he began by choosing the terroir that would bear the fruits of his desire. He found it on the Cassagnes plateau (Agly valley), where gneiss, through its properties, optimizes the cultivation of grape varieties giving smooth dry white wines and round, full-bodied red wines of great freshness. Poetic names which, through the daily toil required by organic viticulture, have kept their promises by offering exceptional grapes whose subtle alchemy of blending and vinification have revealed sensual and prestigious wines put on J. Robuchon's tables and often awarded prizes. His father told us that for Philippe, medals were not his goal, he only wants excellence. Just one piece of advice, taste and get drunk on his incomparable wines!

On the very typical soil of the Roussillon plain, the Elne vines are cultivated on sandy and deep soils. The winegrowers produce PGI Côtes Catalanes, Côtes du Roussillon and natural Doux Wines. Elne's sales cellar is located behind the Cave Coopérative, at the end of the village in the direction of Argelès. Rustic and period, you will be charmed by its exposed stone walls, its old beams, its two magnificent tuns. It is the ideal place if you like to taste in a rustic and winegrower setting. The vault is more intimate than Cabestany's and you feel at home in the company of Laurence, the mistress of the place, who will guide you according to your preferences.

In the Schram family, we are merchants from father to son. And Frédéric decided to embark on the vineyard adventure in 2003. The 20 hectare estate is located on clay-limestone soils in the Aspres and produces delicious wines from carignan, mourvèdre, grenache, syrah and muscat. You can find all the colours in dry and sweet wines that you can admire and taste in the superb brand new cellar installed in the village. Special mention for the Muscat which received the gold medal at the Paris agricultural competition.

If all the restaurant owners of the region display bottles of the Domaine Sarda-Malet on their menu, it is certainly not without reason. Since 1982, the year of the take-over of the estate, the Sarda-Malet family produces three côtes-du-roussillon and two rivesaltes. The hard work of the vineyard, as well as the respect for grapes and beautiful fruit, makes the wines from the estate elegant, from its delicacy to its tannic quality. Deep and sustained colours, red-fruit flavours with which a vanilla note mixes, these powerful and warm wines with spice touches have been awarded many times, a departmental reference. Tastings are done on appointment, especially for the periods of harvest.

This important property now covers 170 hectares. The visit is worthwhile for the thousand 60-litre glass jars filled with Vin Doux Naturel, which are exposed to the sun for a year and then stored in oak tuns. In addition to a beautiful free tasting of many vintages in the superb cellar with a very modern look, the Mas Amiel offers, upon reservation, a host of workshops around its estate and its production: discovery of the vineyard in a 4x4, gourmet hikes, Maury and Grand Cru chocolate pairings...

Domaine Sanac is a winery. It offers a wide selection of wines, including Cuvée Pierre d'Anjou 2015, Rivesaltes Ambré, Muscat de Noël, Age d'Or, Roses d'Albères, Eclats de grains Blanc, Eclats de grains Rosé and Eclats de grains Rouge. The estate also offers a delivery service for those wishing to enjoy their wines at home.

Les Vignerons en Terres Romanes is a wine cooperative based in Marquixanes. Their passion is to create wines of character that reflect both the people and the high altitude of the region.

A winegrower for more than ten years, Jérôme Masnou has decided to follow his dreams to the end and produce his own wines. Son and grandson of a winegrower, this winegrower uses his in-depth knowledge of the natural environment and his requirements to produce wines of optimal quality, with the greatest respect for the environment. The 12 hectares of vines are grown on two distinct terroirs: black shale on Espira-de-l'Agly and rolled pebbles on clay soils in Peyrestortes. Jérôme is more than a craftsman, he is an artist winegrower who makes wonderful wines with love and passion. A small magician who knew how to exploit the typicity of each terroir, "each vine has its own vat and barrel," he comments. A favourite for the 100% Mourvèdre Black Hole (twelve months in contact with the wood) and the Schisterra (grenache, syrah and mourvèdre) aged in barrels for twenty-four months. This man's values are also respect for the earth and life since part of the estate is organic, the other part is in conversion. Finally, all beautiful, all new, Jérôme grows one hectare of organic olive trees and offers the oil from his first harvest for sale. An area to discover without further delay.

Solenn and Dominique, it's another idea of viticulture. He is an oenologist and agronomist, she is a sommelier, their philosophy attracts the attention of great experts and critics and the awards start to rain down. Their wines are characterized by classic aromas, offering more finesse thanks to the freshness of the terroir and powdery tannins. Lovers of lively and crisp wines will find their happiness here! Professionalism and craftsmanship are the epithets best suited to this passionate and endearing couple.

At the foot of the Força Real mountain that watches over Roussillon, Château Lafforgue is a superb 13th century medieval building. The vineyard, of about twenty hectares, located between the Têt valley and the Agly valley, extends over the high plateaus of Corneilla-la-Rivière and the arid and windy hills of Calce. This diversity of terroirs produces fresh and mineral wines on the calcareous and schistose soils of Calce and more round and aromatic wines on the rounded pebbles of the alluvial terraces of Corneilla. Noël (who belongs to the fifth generation of winegrowers) cares for his vines and has chosen ploughing rather than weeding to be part of an environmental approach. This winegrower and his wife Nathalie invite you to discover their terroir on horseback (and of course to taste their wines!) as part of magnificent "equi-oeno-tourist" walks thanks to the Equitêt Rando structure. We love it!

Yann Tanguy knows how to seize the opportunities available to him. In 2006, when Lacroix's Castle was put on sale, he did not hesitate to acquire and modernize it. The owner of the farmhouse is surrounded by people who are willing to take care of the 45 hectares of vineyards that cerclent this ancient monastery. As we know, a respected vineyard is the guarantee of quality wine. Fine and elegant, the Whites, Red, Rosé, Muscat dry and Muscat de Rivesaltes, wines forming part of the "Château" range, have had a great success. The wines of the "Reserve" range, very noble and perfect for the tasting of fish or desserts, are a collection of the finest "syrahs" and Rivesaltes Amber. The budget involved in renovating this magnificent property was quickly covered by the harvest.

The grenache is certainly the best grape adapted to Maury and wines obtained are exemplary when they are vinified by large winemakers. This is the case of Agnès and Jean-François Bachelet who offer in their vault of the great wines. To be convinced, it would be necessary to can still discover Maury 1925 with the sales on the place, whose fabulous patina and bouquet, would convert most refractory. Fortunately, more recent wines are in tasting and everyone can enjoy maury that are divided in red, tiles and white, mild and dry, without forgetting the rancios with so specific flavours, muscatel-of-Rivesaltes, red coast-of-Roussillon-villages or red, pink and white local wines. Faithful to their first dry wine selection, you will find the sale of the Desire 2015.2014 and 2013.

A unique place is located in the heart of Perpignan: Sant Vicens. Created in 1942 by Denys and Firmin Bauby, this farmhouse of the 18th century has become a must of ceramics and Catalan tradition. The greatest artists that Roussillon can count made and make a stopover at Sant Vicens. Not to forget those from elsewhere, Jean Lurçat and Jean Picart Le Doux for the most renowned. You will be welcomed by the family atmosphere of the Bauby, in a farmhouse and a garden that still has other surprises like the cellar which will offer you, in addition to the wines of the region, a wide range of whiskeys, champagnes or cognacs. Ideal to combine Art and Epicureanism!

Crossed by the famous Voie Domitia, the Domaine de la Madeleine vineyard stretches between Perpignan and Canet, on a small hill shaded by gigantic pine trees. This ancient vineyard produces wines of character. Evelyne and Georges Assens produce AOC Côtes-du-Roussillon, AOC Rivesaltes and muscat-de-Rivesaltes, as well as vins de pays and vins de cépage; artisanal wine vinegars and almonds from the estate complete the range. You can taste them in the Caveau en Cayrou, housed in the former stables of the ^18th-century estate. Visits to the estate are organized around seasonal themes. Saturdays in summer are marked by a Catalan aperitif at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.: a tasting of three wines and appetizers. For beginners, there are five wines to choose from, accompanied by local produce, while the discovery tour includes a meal in the cellar.

Created by the merger of the cooperatives of Saleilles and Canet in 1988, the company is now called "Les Vignobles du Soleil". This group includes more than 90 winegrowers, for a surface area of 250 ha (on a quaternary alluvial soil), united by the values of cooperation. During the tasting, you will be offered PGIs and Côtes du Roussillon in all three colours and natural sweet wines. We also find organic wines like the B vintages, which are synonymous with beauty and well-made. This approach towards organic farming is not new since it was initiated in 2009. Also, a special mention for the JV cuvée in IGP Côtes Catalanes blanc, "I'm going" with my eyes closed. And go ahead because we will give you the best welcome in both cellars.

Conat is a small town in French Polynesia. Although little known to tourists, it is home to an interesting winery to visit: Domaine Vini Chiodi. This winery offers tastings of local wines and gives visitors the chance to learn about the wine-making process. Wine lovers will appreciate the quality of the estate's products. The estate's website provides further information and contact details for arranging a visit.

Christine Campadieu, Vincent Cantié and recently, Jean Baills, all the three talented winemakers, offer today a range of wines that are very typical of the region by their minerality, in white, rosé, red and ,of course, in sweet. For tasting, the white collioure Les Canadells vintage slightly rancio is ideal to accompany anchovies, the remarkable Rosé des Roches collioure, as well as the red Puig Oriol. Special mention for the Rimage banyuls which is, with its late bottling, worth a visit.

Domaine Saint-Sébastien is a remarkable 14-hectare vineyard, on the majority planted with grenache and whose wines come from the "old vineyard", in terraces supported by dry stone walls. Here, the viticulture is in the image of the unique feature of the terrain, between coves and peaks with at a 400 m high and there is no mechanization. The estate's wines are produced under two AOC: Collioure and Banyuls. The Collioure that consists of white, pink and red expresses well the potential of terroir; Banyuls, vin doux naturel, is the ancestral appellation. There are two wine range, the "Inspirations" made of characterful wines and the "Empreintes" that reflects the quintessence of the grenache in the schist field. The estate organises discovery days "Between schist and the Mediterranean" with approach of the vineyards by sea of cap Béar to cap de Creus, followed by cellars visit, tasting and a meal at the wonderful restaurant of the estate, Jardin de Saint-Sébastien.