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Situated in Languedoc just north of Carcassonne, on the southern flank of the Montagne Noire, which separates Languedoc from the Massif Central, Cabardès is unique in that the transitional character of its geography and range of its grape varietals (with plots of Cabernet Sauvignon alongside Grenache) permit the winemaker to favor either a Mediterranean or an Atlantic (Aquitaine) style. As president of the Comité Interprofessionnel de Cabardès, Claude Carayol succeeded in creating this appellation in 1999, even though wine has been made here since the Romans. There are now between 50 and 60 producers in the appellation.

The Carayol family has been growing grapes in this region for many generations, though winemaking is a more recent venture. They own 150 hectares of land up in the hills with just about 20 hectares under vine in the most crazy patchwork of small parcels. You drive over rocky terrain of scrub-oak from one parcel of vines to the other, each vineyard fitting comfortably into its contour in the plateau. This scrub-oak is where the word “garrigue” derives (“gar” being the word for oak) and up in these hills you see the first signs of the typical Mediterranean terroir including wild herbs like thyme and rosemary.

Now conducted by Nicolas Carayol, Domaine de Cabrol has the highest vineyards in Cabardès, about 300 meters; the soils are almost pure broken rock, filled with fossilized sea creatures from 90 million years ago. These high elevation vineyards allow Nicolas to harvest much later than his down-the-hill neighbors (mid to late October), allowing for a very long growing season.

Farming practices: organic.

Domaine de Cabrol
You Tube : “Un jour au Domaine de Cabrol”