Languedoc-Roussillon
Allegria, Pézenas
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The Winery
Perched on the first hills of the Haut Languedoc, the Allegria winery has stunning panoramic views overlooking the plains below that stretch to the Mediterranean and to the Montagne Noire to the west. On a clear day, the snow capped peaks of the Pyrenees can also be seen in the distance.
This promising new winery was created in 2008 with the purchase of 9 hectares of vines by Ghislain and Delphine d’Aboville, and Roberto de la Mota, one of the most respected Argentinian oenologists. The winery has already caught the eye of critics, and their Tribu d’A white wine received a star in the reputed Guide Hachette des Vins 2011, with a “very successful wine” mention. Certainly the first in a long list of awards to come for this gem of a vineyard.
Allegria is one of the first Languedoc wineries created that is completely respectful of the environment. The 9 hectares of vines are in the final stages of being organically certified, and the new wine making and storing buildings have been designed with the same philosophy; a grass roof, rainwater collecting tank, solar paneled electricity…
The vineyards are planted with a nice mix of Mediterranean grape varietals; a majority of Syrah, lots of Mourvèdre, a few acres of Cinsault and a small plot of Carignan.
Adopt a vine at the Allegria winery and get involved in making your own wine with the Gourmet Odyssey Wine Experience.
Region
Languedoc Roussillon is a stunning region where the vines and Mediterranean Sea meet. Stretching from the edge of Nîmes to the Spanish border, its vineyards make up the largest wine growing region in France.
The past few years have seen a real transformation of Languedoc Roussillon with the arrival of a new generation of winemakers, united in their aim of improving the quality of their wine whilst being more respectful to the land that provides their livelihood. Today, Languedoc Roussillon has the largest surface area of organic vines in France.
At the moment, a reclassification of the Languedoc wines is in process, the best areas being designated as “Grand Cru”.
Ghislain and Delphine d’Aboville form part of the group of young, talented winemakers from the region that are improving the quality and perception of Languedoc wine.
After 8 years spent at Moët Hennessy as Marketing Director, Ghislain decided to follow his passion for wine and went back to study in Winemaking and Oenology. He continued his training in some of the great wine estates of Languedoc, Argentina and Tuscany, allowing him to mix the local traditions with knowledge gained from abroad.
Ghislain and Delphine scoured the Mediterranean coast for 2 years, searching for the perfect terroir and vineyard that would enable them to give the best expression to their wines, before settling with their 4 children on the terroir of Pézenas.
The Allegria winery is also the story of a Franco Argentine friendship, Roberto de la Mota also embarking in the adventure with Ghismain and Delphine. Roberto is one of the great Argentine oenologues and helps Ghislain and Delphine in their decisions. During his illustrious career, Roberto has created some of Argentina’s most acclaimed wines such as Cheval des Andes, the fruit of a partnership between the famous Bordeaux wine estate, Cheval Blanc, and the Bodega Terrazas de los Andes.
A passionate and engaging couple, Ghislain and Delphine are the perfect hosts to discover their region and to share their know-how in making their wines.
The wine chosen for the Gourmet Odyssey Wine Experience at Allegria is their Tribu d’A, made from 80% syrah and 20% mourvèdre.
The vineyard is currently in the final stages of turning organic, and the 2011 vintage should be the first to be certified as being made with organically grown grapes.
Tribu d’A distinguishes itself with its black fruit aroma and peppery notes. In the mouth, the syrah dominates with its violet taste and good minerality. The tannins present are soft and give a magnificent long finish.
Two-thirds of the wine is aged in the vats, the remaining third in oak barrels. By blending the wine from the vats and barrels, the blended wine gains in complexity. The wine aged in the vats has more fruit, and is fresher. The wine from the barrels has more depth and structure, marked with spicy and peppery aromas. The blending brings together these distinct aromatic profiles to create a well-balanced wine with a potential of laying down.
Charcteristics
> Wine - Red, Coteaux du Languedoc Pézenas
> Grape Varieties – Syrah (80%) and Mourvèdre (20%)
> Vineyard size – 9ha
> Soil – Volcanic gravel terraces
> Style – complex with a long finish. Black fruits and spicy notes
> Keeps – 5-10 years
> Ideal with – Barbecued meats, duck, red mullett...
Availability of the wine
The wine is bottled 8-12 months after the harvest.
Getting There
By Plane
The closest airport is Montpellier, which is about a one hour drive away. Flights are available from the UK, Belgium and Spain.
At the end of May 2011, Flybe are due to start operating flights to Béziers from the UK and Ireland from the end of May. Ryanair also have a limited service from Germany and the UK to Béziers. Béziers airport is about 45 minutes from Allegria.
Other airport options are Carcasonne and Nîmes, both about 1 hour 20 minutes drive away, and Marseille and Toulouse (2 hours 20).
By Car
The distances and times below are estimated using GoogleMaps from the city centre to Domaine Allegria, lieu-dit Fontarêche, Caux 34720.
|
Depart |
KM |
Miles |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toulouse | 214 | 133 | 2h 15 |
| Marseille | 236 | 146 | 2h 29 |
| Barcelona | 314 | 195 | 3h 09 |
| Lyon | 369 | 229 | 3h 38 |
| Bordeaux | 454 | 282 | 4h 17 |
| Geneva | 515 | 320 | 4h 53 |
| Paris | 735 | 457 | 6h 46 |
| Milan | 707 | 439 | 6h 56 |
| Rennes | 905 | 562 | 8h 20 |
| Calais | 1 022 | 635 | 9h 20 |
| Brussels | 1 038 | 645 | 9h 44 |
Accommodation
| Price | Name | Address | Distance to Winery |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45-60 | La Maison |
9, avenue de la Gare, 34120 Tourbes +33 (0)4 67 98 86 95 |
13km / 9m |
| 60-90 | Hôtel le Grand Molière |
place 14 juillet, 34120 Pézenas |
10km / 7m |
| 100-160 | Hostellerie de Saint-Alban |
31 route d'Agde, Nézignan l'Evêque, 64120 Pézenas +33 (0)4 67 98 11 38 |
10km / 7m |
| 120 | Le 5 Gallery |
5, rue Canabasserie, 34120 Pézenas +33 (0)4 67 39 54 41 |
10km / 7m |
Near By Attractions
- Pézenas – Historic town famous for art, considered to be the Saint Emillion of the Languedoc region. Step back in time at the Scénovision museum dedicated to the life and works of Molière who started his career in Pézenas
- Marseillan – Visit the picturesque fishing port and beach and laze away your day. Enjoy the oysters and fresh seafood
- Salagou Lake – Walk in the stunning landscape around the lake and Cirque de Mourèze.
Links
Languedoc Roussillon Regional Tourist Office: http://www.languedoc.visite.org/
Hérault Departmental Tourist Office : http://www.herault-tourisme.com/
Pézenas Local Tourist Office : http://www.ot-pezenas-valdherault.com/
Agrandir le plan
Harvest 2011 at Allegria
We have just spent our first Wine Experience day at Domaine Allegria, and we are thrilled with our choice of winery and the winemakers, Ghislain and Delphine d'Aboville. A fantastic setting and a passionate couple who have an unconventional and captivating story on how they ended up settling under the Languedoc sun of southern France.
We met up with some of the clients of the Gourmet Odyssey Wine Experience for the harvest, and what fine grapes were waiting for us! Read more...
1 - Product
2 - Range
3 - Region
4 - Producer
5 - Season
6 - Vines
From 149 €
