Château de Luc: A 100% Female Succession

Lucest Castle is situated on the terraces of Alaric, in the heart of the Corbières region, on dry, stony, windy terroirs covered in garrigue. The vines have deep roots and produce rich grapes that yield wines of exceptional quality.

“The terroir: that’s where it all begins”

When we arrive at Château de Luc, the tour begins with a stroll through the vineyards and the scrubland, right at the heart of the Fabre family’s work. Jeanne tells us that Louis knows the vineyards by heart, down to the very last detail.

When Louis had the estate certified by Ecocert in 1992, he was a pioneer of organic farming in the region. His commitment to the environment and ecology goes far beyond the certification. It is a conviction, a philosophy that is reflected in his working practices and is a priority for the entire family. The vineyards are grassed every other row with various crops to enrich the soil with nitrogen. Hedges and olive trees are planted around the plots to preserve biodiversity.

Château de Luc Winery

According to Jeanne: “Having a certification isn’t enough to call yourself organic. My parents were committed to this cause long before that. The certification helps formalize the process and encourages us to reflect on and improve our methods and practices.”

Château de Luc: A Blend of Modernity and Tradition

Louis is the heart and soul of Château de Luc: a passionate scientist, but also a poet and philosopher, he is dedicated to preserving the heritage he has inherited from his family. The tour of the château takes us into a small room that serves as a veritable museum of the estate, the village, and the region. “We have many inventors in the family: my great-grandfather invented a chromatometer, and my grandfather invented rail-mounted carts that allow us to transport the harvested grapes to the vat without damaging them,” says Jeanne. Following in the family tradition, Louis is also an inventive man who pays close attention to every detail. Self-taught, he pushes problems to their limits to find the most suitable solutions.

Jeanne explains: “Technology is like a stained-glass window that must let the sunlight shine through. It should enhance and bring out the terroir and the character of the grapes in the wine, rather than masking them and thereby standardizing the bottles.”

With the help of two oenologists, Stéphane Yerle and Bernard Rehs, the Fabre family is open to innovation and doesn’t hesitate to try new techniques. The latest? The use of polymer eggs for aging red wines is currently being tested.

Next-generation energy

Louis is gradually passing the torch to the next generation: Clémence, Jeanne, and Paule—Louis’s daughters and niece, respectively—have arrived at the château to take over the family business. After years of fascinating studies, travels abroad, and various work experiences, they have returned to the family estate, motivated, full of energy, and determined.

Clémence is expanding exports to Asia, Jeanne wants to promote wine tourism, and Paule handles the château’s finances. With patience and great passion, Louis is passing on to them the keys to the business, the skills, the secrets, and his work philosophy.

As for the wines: concentration and harmony

The result of this interplay between generations, tradition, and innovation—between terroir and grape varieties—is a collection of wines full of finesse that reflect the region’s distinctive character, express the terroir, and are simply meant to be shared and enjoyed. The Château de Luc range is available on Les Grappes: expressive, fruity, and pleasant, it features the garrigue, spices, and flowers that characterize the terroir.

Our recommendation: Come discover their wide selection of wines, spanning several appellations: from the soils of Corbières-Boutenac to the alluvial soils of the plains, each wine will charm you with its unique character.