View of the Cité from my Merlot at O'Vineyards, photo by Noraa

AOC Cabardes is a region on the border between the cold winds of the Atlantic and the warm Mediterranean breeze. This position offers a balanced climate, ideal for providing our grapes with exposure to the warm sun while cooling them off at night to prevent the plants from potentially harmful bouts of heat.

The climate also allows this region to grow a unique blend of varietals, providing capably for traditionally Mediterranean grapes like Syrah and Grenache in the same soils that grow typical Atlantic varietals like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

In a way, the region’s dual winds reflect the paths that brought us here as a family. We’re between two worlds in so many different ways, it’s only natural that we also make wines between worlds.

American and French, New World and Old World, Parents and Children, Local and Exotic.

Here is the English-language version of the Cabardes website.

Vin de Pays Cité de Carcassonne

From the vines, we have a magnificent view of one of France’s most famous castles, Carcassonne.  We strive to make modern wines that still pay homage to this fantastic region steeped in history and culture.

We work really hard all year round, cultivating the Vin de Pays with the same work ethic and mentality that applies to classified wines.   They benefit from the same tall trellis system, destemming, debudding, deleafing, green harvesting, and so on.

Our Vins de Pays are all single estate wines fermented and aged just a few hundred yards from where they were harvested.  We treat them with respect, over the course of a long and gentle maceration so they can offer a balance of fruit and structure, rich with ripe fruit and a variety of different notes depending on the wine.  You can taste the pepper and spice of the Mediterranean or the mineral and leathery qualities of our blends.

But it’s important not to overthink it.  They’re all interesting and delicious.