Domaine de
LA GOURGASSE
NEUVE
WINE WITH A CORSICAN ACCENT
The history of the Domaine de la Gourgasse and its vineyards is an unusual one.
Their wines are
atypical.
Originally from Béziers, the Iché family
ran a little hotel-restaurant in the suburbs
of the town, when they inherited the
domaine out of the blue. The previous
owner had been a friend who died without
an heir, leaving it to them. The vines were
very ancient and no wine was being made.
Bernard Iché was a former footballer
who had become an antiques dealer and
his son, Marcel, wanted to be a history
teacher.
With the help of a skilled agricultural
worker, they spent two years learning
how to cultivate the vineyard. “It’s not
too complicated, it’s a bit like cooking”,
explains Marcel. He gave up his
university studies to obtain a certificate in
agricultural management. He has been an
official winegrower since 2000.
So, it was the vagaries of life that brought
the Iché family here in 1994.
After uprooting nearly all the plots,
Marcel Iché patiently replanted local
grape varieties and introduced others.
Today he cultivates around 15 hectares
as IGP Coteaux d’Ensérune.
But the story doesn’t end there.
17
Marcel has Corsican origins from his
mother’s side and being sentimental
about this, he decided in 2010 to plant
Corsican grape varieties: Sciaccarellu,
Vermentinu, Biancu gentile, Aleaticu,
Niellucciu... names that evoke the
Island of Beauty. Today, climate change
has proved that this was a wise decision
– because of persistent dryness and
“the north wind that blows on the vines
even in the summer now” winegrowers
must take a serious look at the varieties
they grow. “From an idea that was a
little sentimental”, a nod to his Corsican
ancestry, Marcel has really defined a
strategy for the future of his production
and will bring out his range of red, white
and rosé wines from Corsican grape
varieties in 2019.
His favourite wine is, unsurprisingly, the
“Centenariu” (centenarian in Corsican),
a top-of-the-range wine for laying down
that is a tribute to his ancestor, who
would have celebrated his 100th birthday
in 2015. Marcel decided to immortalise
his island forebears on the labels of his
“Métisse” vintage, a real family album.
From the Domaine de Gourgasse,
bordered by the Canal du Midi and a few
minutes from the Fonseranes Locks,
you can see Saint Nazaire Cathedral, the
Tower of Montady, “la Femme allongée”
(the woman lying down - the name of a
plateau on Mount Caroux), “This domaine
is a real history book” says Marcel.
He therefore plans to develop wine
tourism and is even thinking of setting
up - although he admits he is not very
good at social media - panels with QR
codes at the foot of the vines to give
explanations about the grape varieties.
No doubt this is an idea to look out for...
TRAVERSE DE COLOMBIERS - 34500 BÉZIERS
04 67 49 91 44 - domaine-gourgasse.fr
Domaine de la Gourgasse
The doors of the winery shop are open from 11 am to 12
noon and 6 pm to 8 pm every day of the week during the
summer period.
From November to March, contact
Marcel before your visit on 06 13 30 32 51.