The Domaine du Grand Arc was established in 1995, in the commune of Cucugnan. The vines, however, are far older. It lies in the heart of the spectacular Hautes-Corbières, in a place called the Devez. Part of the terroir of Quéribus, an impressive nearby ruined mediaeval fortress, it belongs to the southern Corbières AOC. It was love at first sight for Bruno and Fabienne in 1990, who immediately set up home with their two sons.
The secluded valley that shelters the Domaine is dominated by two old castles: the great Peyrepertuse at one end, and Padern at the other. It was the site’s magical natural beauty that captivated them, and convinced them to start reworking the existing vines, with the aim of producing wines of Appellation Corbières quality.
Since then, they have carved out their Domaine of some 22 hectares within a 150 hectare territory of existing vines and Mediterranean garrigue scrub vegetation. They have also restored most of the old stone buildings on the property, where they now make the wine. Of the 22 hectares of vines, 3 are white grapes (Grenache, Maccabeo and Roussanne), and 19 red (Black Grenache, Carignan, Shiraz, Cinsault and Mourvèdre).
Bruno and Fabienne deliberately limit the total yield from the different varieties: between 35 and 45 Hl/hectare. All the grapes are hand-picked
The vines are, for the most part, planted on south-facing slopes. This part of the mountainous region of the Hautes-Corbières is well suited to the production of elegant whites and roses that are well balanced and full of flavour.
The grapes mature in a climate of cool nights and hot, dry days, in which a healthy wind from the north, the Tramontane (known locally as the Cers), blows over them regularly
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A siliceous limestone-sedimentary clay soil rounds off conditions that are highly favourable for the production of excellent reds, full of character. The couple’s respect for nature and the natural environment has led to a sensible management strategy for their vineyard, to be able to limit the use of chemicals in their wine production.
Here, therefore, are all the essential ingredients for the production of great wines: a process in which there is a constant search for balance and harmony between land, climate, varieties – and the winemaker and his passion. Each matters. After careful maturation in oak casks, the reds display the full-bodied and aromatic proof of this loving process.
These then—the ‘terroir’, the climate, the different grape varieties, and the passion the wine-maker brings to his art—are the essential ingredients which, united, produce such fine wines. Bruno and Fabienne’s red, carefully matured in oak barrels, is just one expression of this passionately sought harmony.
And this is only a beginning…
Our wines are available in Padern.
Visits to the Domaine du Grand Arc can be arranged by appointment.
Coordonnées
- Téléphone
- 04 68 45 01 03
- Télécopie
- 04 68 45 01 03
- Adresse postale
- Rue Tranquille 11350 Padern France
- Messagerie électronique
- Informations diverses :
info@grand-arc.com
Ventes :
Support client :
Administrateur Web : AdministrateurWebSociété