Domaine du Salut: Aurélia and Frédéric, Winemakers of Gers
Aurélia and Frédéric Caumont seized an opportunity to change their lives and become winemakers. Their venture led them to the Domaine du Salut, in the Graves appellation, in the Bordeaux region.
Aurélia and Frédéric Caumont: “We left Paris to become winemakers”
Aurélia and Frédéric Caumont weren’t destined to become winemakers. A passion for wine, some family ties to the industry, and—above all—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity led them to the Graves appellation in Bordeaux, to the Domaine du Salut.
Aurélia recalls: “I’m originally from Bordeaux, and I have some family in the wine industry, but no one very close to me. We were living in Paris. I was the director of the National Confederation of IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) Wines. My husband wasn’t involved in the wine industry at all.”
“We’d always had our sights set on becoming winemakers, but it was like an old dream we thought was out of reach. Then we had the opportunity to change careers. With this new situation, we took a closer look at the project and realized it was actually feasible. Since I worked in the wine industry, I knew the winemakers well. We went to visit them, and they helped guide us.”
“We trained ourselves. I earned a DUAD (University Diploma in Wine Tasting) from the University of Bordeaux. In 2014, I helped with the winemaking process at neighboring wineries. They’re sort of like our mentors; they helped us tremendously and gave us a leg up.”
“Then we managed to buy the property. It wasn’t easy, but we succeeded, and we moved to the estate in April 2015. We took our two children by the hand and left Paris to become winemakers.”
It’s the start of a new adventure for the Caumont family at the Domaine du Salut in the Graves appellation. “We looked exclusively in Graves because it’s an appellation whose wines I’ve always loved,” says the winemaker.
Delighted and full of enthusiasm, Aurélia doesn’t regret this career change for a second: “This job is unique and rich in its diversity. From pure production and winemaking to physically demanding tasks, vineyard work, developing sales strategies, and export negotiations with major retailers and restaurateurs…we do it all.”
The Salut Estate: Renewal, Modernity, and Youth
The estate’s wines are modern, just like the young couple and their vision. “We want to make wines that reflect who we are, with modern profiles and packaging,” explains Aurélia.
The wine selection is comprehensive: a white, a rosé, two reds, and a sweet wine. The winemaker describes them to us.
“We offer approachable wines. These aren’t wines that need to be cellared for 25 years before drinking or that require complicated explanations to be appreciated. That said, we are still in the Bordeaux region, so the wines have significant tannic structure—something we don’t try to mask, but rather work with.”
“Our wines are fruit-forward. They’re wines you can enjoy right away, in a casual setting, with anyone. Wines that are easy to share.”
The estate’s modernization includes new packaging. Aurélia and Frédéric have radically revamped the labels to create a new, more contemporary image for the wines, breaking with past practices. Modernity also means choosing new distribution models: “It’s great to work with Les Grappes because we’re part of the same movement and share the same energy,” notes Aurélia.
Back to the wines, because if there’s one vintage you absolutely must try, it’s the 2016 vintage: “The 2016 harvest was fantastic,” exclaims Aurélia.
“The white wine, a classic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, is wonderful. It combines the fruitiness of Sauvignon Blanc with the richness of Sémillon. The wine is fresh, crisp, and very lovely.”
“As for the rosé, it has a sweet, candy-like aroma and a lot of freshness on the palate. Plus, I really love its color—it’s gorgeous.”
“The reds are incredible. They have great concentration, a beautiful color, and plenty of body, all underpinned by very expressive fruit.”
Our favorite wines from the estate:
Châteaux Huradin Sweet Wine 2015
In the vineyards, Terra Vitis certification ensures environmental stewardship
Aurélia tells us: “We are Terra Vitis certified. Our approach is simple: we have our home, our garden, and then the vineyards. Our vineyard plots are playgrounds for our children, who are 3 and 5 years old. There’s no question of us not taking care of the environment we live in. So we asked ourselves: what are we going to do to make all our inputs sustainable? We no longer weed; we work the soil; we use contact products, which we limit as much as possible.”
Although still in its early stages, the project is certainly not lacking in ambition: “For now, we’re restructuring the vineyard, which is getting a bit old,” notes Aurélia. “But after that, I’d love to make a single-varietal Malbec. Eventually, our plan is to expand so we can have a little fun.” ” Patient, the winemaker emphasizes: “For now, we’re laying the groundwork. Then, we’ll allow ourselves to get a little creative.”
Has the dream come true? “We’re thrilled with our choice and truly delighted. It was a great idea. It’s not easy, but it’s very exciting. I encourage people to take a chance and follow through on their dreams.”
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