Guide Oenotourisme Béziers 2018 Oenotourisme Béziers 2018 | Page 48

cooperative winery D’ALIGNAN- DU-VENT WITH AN EYE ON THE FUTURE The d’Alignan du Vent and Neffiès wineries merged a few years ago in order to create a perfect complementarity for the products they offer. A diversity of wi nes with impeccable qu ality. GLOSSARY Terra Vitis Terra Vitis Created 10 years ago, it is a movement that is also a brand, a label and a certification. The Terra Vitis approach is the only sustainable winemaking certification recognised in France, equivalent to level 2 HVE (High Environmental Value). Wine enthusiasts will find IGP Oc and Côtes de Thongues wines as the standard and middle-of-the-range offer and Languedoc AOCs at the top of the list. Of course, they export their wines but also sell locally in their two winery shops. Since last year, 90 hectares have been converted to organic farming, 130 hectares in Terra Vitis and the rest exploited traditionally. Even if at the heart of the winery, all opinions and methods are respected, “It is not about constraining wine makers”, says Lionel Delsol, president of the cooperative, it’s clear that focusing on environmental issues is a present-day concern for this organisation. A diversity of wines with impeccable quality. Winemakers have become aware of the need to respect the use of certain products, doses and methods, especially when they themselves observe the effects on health and the environment. A group of forward-looking cooperative winemakers have established a monitoring commission to study “Sustainable Control Methods”. Fifteen members meet every 15 days to observe the evolution of illnesses and vine resistance to climate conditions on control plots. This data is analysed and is the basis for group decisions which are implemented as tests. This work is supervised by the Chamber of Agriculture and provides a benchmark. “It is a lengthy process”, explains Lionel. The Alignan du Vent winery will present its first organic vintage in 2020. The winery shops offer 15 wines of all colours, 4 of which are AOCs and the rest 48 are IGPs. Their favourite wine is called “Hauts de Montarel”, a woody, high- quality Chardonnay, harvested at optimum maturity, produced from old vines with a medium yield and aged in casks for about 6 months. As for wine tourism, a vineyard walk takes place at Neffiès each month of August and every Monday evening, the Alignan du Vent winery shop hosts a tasting in the company of the winegrowers who are always happy to explain everything about their wines. On these occasions it’s not uncommon to sample fruit and vegetables or oysters from local producers. 7 RUE DE LA GUISSAUME - 34290 ALIGNAN-DU-VENT 04 67 24 91 31 - cavecooperative.com Winery shop open year round. BÉZIERS AVENTURE Situated in a 80 hectare forest only 10 minutes from the centre of Béziers on the main routes, Béziers Aventure has been welcoming young and old alike for the past 10 years for unforgettable thrills in the treetops. Come and test your agility on 10 diffe- rent courses of increasing difficulty in a pleasant, natural setting and total safety. Route de Bessan - D28 (Bois de Bourbaki) 34500 Béziers - 06 25 43 41 37 beziersaventure.com Béziers Aventure