Our vines
Terroirs & biodiversité
Mosaic of soils
Geological wealth
and freshness of a terroir
Château Fonsalade is located on a geological fault. This unique feature offers exceptional richness because even if the soils of shale and clay-limestone are dominant, we work on no fewer than seven different types of soil: from schist-sandstone to gypsum marl and pebbles.
This mosaic of soils is completed by a variety of exposures and altitudes. 15 hectares are located on the plain and 18 hectares on hillsides, the highest of which reaches 350 meters above sea level on the heights of Roquebrun. Fonsalade forms a valley surrounded by hills and swept by the north winds or conversely by the sea breezes. This specificity makes it a terroir generally cooler by 3 to 4°C than the rest of the appellation, this freshness significantly marks the wines of Fonsalade.
Terroir
Biodiversity
Biodiversity
three cypress
Respect of our ecosystem
and biodiversity
We want to protect this exceptional terroir and its ecosystem. That's why we have chosen to replant southern grape varieties - Carignans, Cinsaults or Grenaches - better suited to our climates. For more fragile grape varieties such as Syrah, we have chosen to plant regularly rather than overprotect the plant from aggression.
Our philosophy is to aim for zero input into our soils. The weeding is mechanical and the nutrition organic, even if it represents a much greater workload than in traditional cultivation. We are convinced that it is the only sustainable alternative.
Finally, we are surrounded by a very rich ecosystem, we contribute to its development by planting old variety fruit trees and bee plants for pollinating insects every year.
Fonsalade Estate
Geological section NO - SE
Mosaic of soils
Technical and precise gestures
for exceptional wines
Making good wines, which give pleasure to those who produce them but even more to each taster, whether expert, occasional or even newcomer, requires attention and precision in every gesture. Therefore, we have chosen to carry out all the cultivation and vinification work by ourselves, only a team of experienced pickers comes to help us from mid-August to the end of September.
We carry out most of our harvests by hand: at night or at daybreak exclusively. Our goal is to start our fermentations below 14°C to protect and retain as many aromas as possible. Each parcel is vinified separately to preserve their intrinsic characteristics.
The Château Fonsalade and Felix Culpa cuvées come from unique and identical plots year after year.
Cellar