Guide Oenotourisme Béziers 2018 Oenotourisme Béziers 2018 | Page 42

Domaine de LA COLOMBETTE INNOVATIVE AND AT THE FOREFRONT The history of the Domaine de la Colombette began with the dowry of a hectare of vineyard given by a young fiancée to Pugibet, her husband-to-be, in 1890. Their wines are innovative and convivial. GLOSSARY Demi-muids Large 600-litre barrels PIWI piWi acronym of the German word “Pilzwiders- tandsfähig”, literally meaning “capable of resis- ting mushrooms”.Grape varieties able to resist diseases of the vine are grouped together under this term. While this is a romantic story of the past, the most outstanding characteristic of this domaine in more recent years is its constant innovation. In 1966, François Pugibet took over the family business and transformed the property by modernising its equipment and introducing new farming techniques. He was the last to harvest with a horse and the first to harvest with a machine in the region. A pioneer for planting Chardonnay in Languedoc, he was recognised for this audacious move by the award for the world’s best Chardonnay in 1995 with his famous wine matured in demi-muids, which began la Colombette’s renown.Vincent joined his father on the estate 20 years ago and works on it today with his wife Sophie. On his watch, the vineyard has been enlarged and irrigation has now been introduced. Aiming for quality, the Pugibet family is working to bring more finesse and freshness to its wines, which explains why they are developing a technique of de-alcoholisation. This work led to the creation of the “Plume” range, with wines at 9%. They go even further by enabling non-alcohol drinkers to share convivial moments around wine by offering a non- alcoholic range. Always open to new approaches, today Vincent is enlarging the domaine by acquiring a property of 30 hectares under organic cultivation. Not happy about using products like sulphur or copper to treat the soil, he has launched himself into the research of new farming techniques. An agronomist, modern wine grower and visionary, Vincent has taken an interest in varieties that are resistant to the main diseases of the vine, oidium and 42 mildew. After numerous trials and endless research, 40 hectares of the Domaine de la Colombette have been planted with resistant varieties, making this estate a precursor in Europe today. Their favourite wine is the “Souvignier Gris Muscaris”, from one of the resistant varieties with no chemical treatment, which yields a fresh and light wine, the result of the innovative and focused work undertaken over several years. In addition, Vincent is also president of the PiWi France association, composed of researchers, nursery gardeners and winegrowers that share a passion for the future. He has just won the innovation prize for his work on resistant grape varieties awarded by the Revue de France! If you go to the sales cellar of la Colombette, Sophie will explain the domaine’s environmental approach. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet them - it’s fascinating! ANCIENNE ROUTE DE BÉDARIEUX - 34500 BÉZIERS 04 67 31 05 53 - lacolombette.fr Domaine la Colombette Pugibet Winery shop open all year from Monday to Saturday. AU LAVOIR Delphine and Louis will be happy to welcome you to his establishment in Colombiers. Their wish is that you en- joy a relaxing and convivial experience focused on fine dishes and good wine. Summer as in winter, you can take advantage of the peaceful ambiance of the Canal du Midi to savour fresh produce with a southern accent. Rue du Lavoir – 34440 Colombiers 04 67 26 16 15 - au-lavoir.com le Lavoir