Our Winery
Domaine de Fontsainte, a family story for 6 generations.
66 hectares
Area
95 meters
Altitude
Soil
Deep, silico-clay-limestone
Orientation
South, South-East
Introduction
Domaine de Fontsainte is in the heart of the Corbières’ celebrated ‘Golden Crescent’ – one of the appellation’s most beautiful and valued terroirs.
With its south, south-east orientation and intense sunshine, the gently sloping Fontsainte vineyard is sheltered from the cold north-west winds, alongside a 500-hectare pine forest.
Dominating the landscape of the village of Boutenac, the domaine enjoys exceptional panorama views.
At only 95m above sea level, the vineyard enjoys a pristine environment (far from any industrial or urban development), and alternating influences from the Mediterranean and the Ocean.
6 generations
Our story
25 B.C.
Roman artefacts
Roman artefacts found on the domaine, such as this bronze coin with the effigy of Marcus Agrippa (approx. 25 BC), which adorns the label of our wine Le Clos du Centurion, attest to Fontsainte’s historical origins: a Roman officer created the estate around a thermal spring. The name Fontsainte (“the holy source”) originates from the neighbouring Hermitage of Saint-Siméon, the patron saint of Boutenac.
MIDDLE AGES
Two castles
Two castles dominated the landscape in the Middle Ages: Fort Haut and Fort Bas Only the latter remains today; It now hosts the Corbières winegrowers’ union.
1971
Yves LABOUCARIE
Yves LABOUCARIE established the estate as it exists today in 1971, although his family’s ties to Boutenac wine date from the 17th century
He inherited the vines, acquired new plots and became a pioneer of quality in Corbières, among the first to practice carbonic maceration, manual harvesting and aging in wood.
1978
At the Elysée table
His “Gris de Gris” and “La Demoiselle” serve as references. As early as 1978, President Giscard d’Estaing was treating his guests at the Elysée Palace to the already award-winning wines of Fontsainte: “La Demoiselle” was in the spotlight.
2004
The anniversary of “LA DEMOISELLE”
Domaine de Fontsainte is made up of several plots, each with its own personality Our most celebrated is La Demoiselle (the official geological survey name), which gives its name to our wine “La Demoiselle”; – its Carignan vines celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2004.
Our grape varieties
Domaine de Fontsainte is in the heart of the Corbières’ celebrated ‘Golden Crescent’ – one of the appellation’s most beautiful and valued terroirs.
The diversity of the Fontsainte plots allows us to maximise the affinities between soil type, orientation, micro-climate and grape variety in order to produce great terroir wines.
Recent replantings, including Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache Gris, have all benefited from an exhaustive geological study of the soil structure of Fontsainte’s various plots.
Committed for many years to respect for the environment, we first adhered to the specifications of VITEALYS, then, since December 2017 our operation was certified at HVE Level 3 (High Environmental Value).
%
CARIGNAN
Average age 70
%
GRENACHE NOIR and GRIS
%
SYRAH
%
MOURVEDRE
Bruno LABOUCARIE explains what the unique terroir of Fontsainte brings to the original character of our wines: “early in the morning, at the beginning of Summer, there is this scent in the still humid air which heats up over the vineyard, pine resin and pollen, flower cistus, rosemary and thyme, aromatic heather from scrub and undergrowth”.
When asked how it tastes in the glass, Bruno, usually talkative, is speechless: “it is this indescribable bouquet that makes our wines unique”.
DOMAINE DE FONTSAINTE
16 Route de Ferrals
11200 BOUTENAC – FRANCE
Phone: +33(0)4 68 27 07 63
earl.laboucarie@fontsainte.com
OPENING TIMES
Monday to Saturday:
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
2:00 pm -7:00 pm
©2021 – Domaine de Fontsainte – Site réalisé par Eponia communication – Mentions légales – Politique de confidentialité – Conditions générales de vente
