"We Dipped Our Toes in Wine: The Rest Quickly Followed!"

An Idyllic Setting in the Terrasses du Larzac

Located Northwest of Montpellier, near the sea and just below the Larzac plateau, the AOC Terrasses du Larzac offers an ideal vacation setting. This detail did not escape Krystel and Joël, both originally from the Montpellier region. While Krystel worked as a medical buyer, the desire to escape the city and "get back to nature" grew stronger. "The more time passed, the more I found my working conditions deteriorating. Joël also wanted a change. So we decided to buy a small vineyard and make our own wine in the Terrasses du Larzac," Krystel recalls. At the beginning, the couple rented a shed, bought 3 tanks, and a small hand press, and embarked on their adventure. "The idea was to make wine for fun with friends. We dipped our toes in: the rest quickly followed!" Krystel laughs.

Moving Towards Organic Certification

Three years later, Domaine Le Clos Rouge covers 5 hectares and will obtain organic certification by 2017. "We have been applying organic farming practices since the birth of our very first wine." At Domaine Le Clos Rouge, everything evokes warmth and sunshine. "The soil is red here!" comments Krystel. The proximity of the Terrasses du Larzac appellation to the mountain gives it a unique climate that produces fresh and aromatic wines—characteristics found in the wines of Domaine Le Clos Rouge. As members of the Terrasses du Larzac winemakers' association, Joël and Krystel are actively involved in promoting this young appellation, officially recognized since 2014.

Expanding the Estate, Planting White Varieties, and Opening a Restaurant

While Domaine Le Clos Rouge primarily produces red wines (as suggested by its name), it does not overlook other colors. When the year permits, meaning if the vintage is sunny and the grapes are juicy, Joël and Krystel also produce rosé wines. They plan to add white wines to their range soon. "For now, it’s a bit challenging to find vineyards for white varieties. But it's one of the challenges we're most passionate about! We also plan to expand the estate and share a space with other regional winemakers, where we could welcome visitors in a tasting room and perhaps even open a small restaurant," say the winemakers, whose plans are far from lacking.