UNIQUE HERITAGE

Les Vignobles Foncalieu stretch across 4,000 hectares between the Cité de Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This vast territory characterised by a mosaic of terroirs and denominations has enabled the development of a wide range of wines, most of which are labelled PDO and PGI of Languedoc. The largest and oldest wine-making region in the world is also a land of culture, art and gastronomy, characterised by mild winters and hot summers. Its multitude of terroirs swept by the Tramontane and the sea wind stretches from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean, offering a wide palette of grape varieties from Carignan to Malbec, and Roussanne to Sauvignon. The colour, nose and mouthfeel of a Languedoc vary considerably according to its terroir, the varieties used in the blend, the yields practised, the quality of the soil and the climate of the preceding year. By mastering our terroir and selecting plots that we believe extraordinary, we produce fine Languedoc wines, including the Atelier Prestige collection and the Château Haut-Gléon wines labelled PDO Corbières and PGI Vallée du Paradis owned by Foncalieu since 2012. We owe our know-how to all these people, who, thanks to their attentiveness and human qualities, have been developing Foncalieu for more than 50 years and have demonstrated their wine-growing spirit.

SUSTAINABLE VITICULTURE

Since 2007, we have been committed to sustainable development with one goal: to ensure the quality of the product, respect for the terroir and the development of new know-how, all while maintaining mutually beneficial relations with the territory. We seek to preserve the vineyard by supporting our members in the approach to their practices and the implementation of sustainable viticulture practices, including the protection of biodiversity, drip irrigation, the installation of grass strips, etc. The method used to combat grape worms by mating disruption is an example of the strength of Foncalieu’s commitment to environmentally friendly cultivation. This method has helped to end treatments against grape worms across 1,100 hectares of vines, which is 25% of the disrupted vine. At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to move a part of our vineyards to organic production: 31 hectares are AB certified to date and 128 hectares are being converted in 2018. This approach is being followed by our wine-growing members and at the headquarters of Vignobles Foncalieu. Measures include sorting and recycling waste, renewable energy promoted with the installation of photovoltaic panels on the Foncalieu site, reduction of water use, improvement of working conditions in the cellars, etc. This primarily human dynamic moves towards responsible development and territorial commitment while encouraging sharing and solidarity.