PRESENTATION
Valmagne Abbey, a unique vineyard
A thousand-year-old vineyard
Vineyard
The vineyard of the Abbey of Valmagna dates back to 1139.
When the Cistercian monks were looking for a location to install a new abbey, they relied on three criteria: access to water, absolute calm and great terroir.
Their knowledge of the land had proven its worth in Burgundy: Chambolle-Musigny, Clos Vougeot, Romanée-Conti came from the work and talent of the monks in the 12th century.
It is therefore with patience and knowledge that the place known as the Tourtourière, between the freshness of the sea and the calm of the Garrigues, would host the abbey of Valmagne and its mythical vineyard.
The cultivation of vines is one of the main activities of the monks and they carefully choose each plot taking advantage of the diversity of terroirs offered by Valmagne.
The wine is growing and the many luxury guests who are passing by recognize the abbey’s wines as the largest in the region.
The revolution saw the monks flee and the new buyer transformed the church into a winery by installing these famous russian oak bolts that could house up to 435 hectolitres.
The Abbey’s winery represents a hundred hectares and wine still occupies a prominent place in the activities of the estate.
In 1838, our ancestor the Count of Turenne, bought the Abbey and continued the work of his predecessors just as we continue his.
Today the vineyard represents 35 hectares of organic farming, with bio-dynamic inspirations since 1999.
Thanks to the diversity of the terroirs around the Abbey, we produce wine from the Languedoc and Languedoc Grés de Montpellier.
the land our legacy
philosophy
True to the work and knowledge of the monks, the domain of the Abbey of Valmagna derives its legitimacy from 900 years ago.
At the beginning of the 12th century, Robert de Molesme created the Cistercian order. He believes that the precedent, the Order of St. Benedict, is no longer properly respected and that the monks must concentrate on two activities: prayer and work. From now on, monks will have to increase prayer time and work much more rigorously and conscientiously. Thus, by working hard, the monks develop a great knowledge of geology and winemaking. By observing, feeling and tasting the earth they are able to award the quality of a soil. Many geologists today are unanimous about the monks’ knowledge in this field. It is no coincidence that none of the great Burgundy climates have been called into question, per cm2, for more than 900 years.
Valmagne is one of these Cistercian vineyards. By installing the Abbey at this precise location, the monks had detected the high quality of the soils, still planted in vines today.
This is how we inherit this magnificent vineyard thanks to the skills of the Cistercians.
In order to preserve it as much as possible, organic farming has been practiced there for more than 20 years. The work of the soil is light and we are constantly careful to respect the balances of nature. The presence of many living organisms in our soils is a guarantee of success for us and the use of chemicals is absolutely forbidden for any treatment.
By conviction, the field is inspired by the practices of bio-dynamics and the implementation of these cultural methods seems obvious to us.
We also refine our research in the writings of the monks to apply their methods in geology and thus produce the purest fruit possible, for the pleasure of all.
