The Land
“I didn’t inherit vines from my family but I did inherit their passion for good wine. Before working our own terroirs, we first learnt to enjoy the terroirs of others.”
Protecting the diversity of our terroirs
Joseph Castan personifies the warmth that goes with the sharing of a good wine. “We pour our energies into wine domaines that we are passionate about, wine domaines from lesser-known appellations such as Terrasses du Larzac, Saint Guilhem, Costières de Nîmes. We are proud of our terroir and the quality of our wines. We just knew that we had to give them the international renown they truly deserve.”
We work on a human scale, bringing together men and women who are passionate about wine, its values and its stories.
Exploration, cultivation, vinification.
The pride in a job well done and the respect for the soils and the viticulture are values that have been perpetuated by our family and which have come to form the basis of our creations.
Les Terrasses du Larzac
An alliance of nature and excellence
Nestled at the foot of the Larzac plateau, the Terrasses du Larzac are located in a truly unique and spectacular terroir, where diverse soils, an exceptional climate and the winegrowers’ savoir-faire come together to produce some of the Languedoc’s most acclaimed wines. This unspoiled area, set between mountains and valleys, is a true jewel of Mediterranean viticulture.
A terroir of remarkable diversity
The Terrasses du Larzac boast a mosaic of soil types, including limestone, schist, sandstone, smooth pebbles and red clay, forming a rich geological tapestry capable of enhancing the expression of each grape variety. These often poor, well-drained soils are conducive to a demanding form of viticulture, requiring the vines to penetrate deep into the earth to access the nutrients they need to produce balanced and concentrated grapes.
The vineyards’ altitude, typically between 50 and 400 metres, has a significant effect on temperature regulation, creating a welcome freshness, maintained by the cool night air on the Larzac plateau, even in the height of summer.
Thanks to these temperature contrasts, the grapes ripen slowly, preserving their natural acidity and developing complex aromas.
A climate tempered by the altitude
The Terrasses du Larzac’s Mediterranean climate is tempered by the cooling influence of the Larzac plateau. The warm, sunny days encourage the concentration of sugars in the grapes, while the cool nights slow the ripening process, resulting in wines of remarkable finesse and balance. Frequent winds help to reduce the risk of disease, allowing for more eco-friendly viticulture.
Wines with a unique signature
The Terrasses du Larzac wines are remarkable for their elegance and depth. The reds, typically blends of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan, offer expressive aromas of red and black fruits, garrigue scrubland and spices, which are underpinned by a remarkable freshness and tannic structure. These powerful yet refined wines demonstrate the full potential of this high-lying terroir.
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
An exceptional land
The unique terroir of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert lies between garrigue scrubland and rugged valleys in the heart of the Languedoc region. This UNESCO World Heritage Site produces truly remarkable wines due to a combination of geological diversity, diverse climatic influences and centuries of winegrowing tradition.
A land unlike any other
The Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert terroir is characterised by a varied geology, a combination of Jurassic limestone, scree and alluvial terraces. These soils, often shallow but rich in minerals, are ideal for quality viticulture, naturally limiting yields and concentrating aromas. The hillsides’ sunny exposure, combined with frequent winds, helps protect the vines from disease while enabling the grapes to reach perfect ripeness.
The influence of the Mediterranean climate
The wines from this terroir owe much of their character to the Mediterranean climate. Hot, dry summers, tempered by episodes of nocturnal freshness, allow the grapes to develop a remarkable aromatic complexity. Winter and spring rains, although moderate, provide just enough water to nourish the vines without excess.
Wines that reflect their terroir
The wines of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert are a true expression of their terroir. The whites are fresh and elegant with notes of citrus and white flowers, while the reds are bold and generous, with black fruit and spicy aromas interwoven with a delicate minerality. These wines reveal the true essence and spirit of a remarkable region.
Les Costières de Nîmes
Bound by land, sea and history
Nestled between the Cévennes, the Camargue and the Mediterranean Sea, the Costières de Nîmes boast a unique terroir where nature and history come together to produce expressive, elegant wines. Shaped by over a thousand years of winegrowing tradition and at the crossroads of climatic and cultural influences, these vineyards are remarkable for their strong identity and impressive diversity.
A land shaped by time
The Costières de Nîmes terroir sits on a vast plateau of smooth pebbles, remnants of the former Rhône and Durance riverbeds. These pebbles, similar to those found in the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, soak up the sun’s heat during the day and release it back to the vines at night, enabling the grapes to ripen evenly. The well-drained soils force the roots of the vines to dig deep in search of water and minerals, resulting in wines with excellent structure and a delicate minerality.
A vibrant Mediterranean climate
Bathed in the Mediterranean sunshine, the Costières de Nîmes enjoy a warm, dry climate tempered by sea breezes from the nearby coast. These frequent breezes, known as marinades, help to keep the vines cool and reduce the risk of disease. Rainfall, concentrated mainly in the autumn and winter, provides just enough water to sustain the vines through the dry months.
Wines bursting with sunshine and emotion
The wines of Costières de Nîmes are a true expression of their luminous terroir: bold, expressive reds with notes of black fruits, spices and wild garrigue; delicate, aromatic rosés, perfect for outdoor dining; and fresh, well-balanced whites with aromas of white-fleshed fruit interwoven with a subtle minerality. Elegant and full of character, these wines exude authenticity and naturally enhance any drinking occasion.
La Vallée du Rhône
A land of character and heritage
Situated between the Massif Central and the Alps, the Rhône Valley stretches from the south of Lyon to Provence and offers a rich mosaic of landscapes and unique terroirs. A land of contrasts and an age-old winemaking tradition, it produces wines of unparalleled depth and complexity, shaped by the symbiosis of soil, climate and ancestral know-how.
A Land unlike any other
The terroir of the Rhône Valley is characterised by a remarkable diversity of soils and landscapes. In the north, steep slopes of granite and schist allow the vines to sink their roots deep into the earth to draw out the minerals that give the wines structure and freshness. In the south, the clay-limestone soils covered with smooth pebbles absorb the heat during the day and release it back to the vines at night, helping the grapes to ripen. The result is sunnier wines with a more generous character.
A climate shaped by multiple influences
The Rhône Valley has two distinct climatic influences. In the north, a continental climate brings cold winters and mild summers, ideal conditions for Syrah, the emblematic grape of the region’s wines. In the south, a warm, dry Mediterranean climate is conducive to the cultivation of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier, producing sun-kissed wines of breadth and complexity.
Wines of remarkable diversity
The Rhône Valley wines are renowned for their diversity and bold character. In the south, AOCs such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras are known for big red wines with notes of ripe fruit, wild garrigue and liquorice. The white wines achieve a fine balance between freshness and aromatic richness, with floral and citrus notes that lend them a remarkable elegance.
