Domaine Ventenac

Overlooking the Pyrenees, in the heart of Cabardès, you’ll find Maison Ventenac. This estate, comprising 130 hectares of south-facing vineyards, proudly overlooks the city of Carcassonne.

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Unique wines from an ambitious winery!

“We’re trying to put the church back in the center of the village, to help people rediscover what wines that truly reflect their terroir are all about. But be warned! Not that good old, deviant, dubious terroir that smells like ‘grandpa’s cap’!” These are the words of Olivier Ramé. They perfectly capture the estate’s passion and quest for uniqueness.

The Ventenac estate strives to produce wines with a strong, assertive identity that are by no means pretentious. That is their philosophy! But all of this is far removed from the wine aristocracy and the overrated luxury that, to them, feels like an insult to the very essence of their craft. Their wines must remain accessible. We must not spoil the pleasure of drinking a great wine by falling into the trap of one-upmanship.

To present the aromatic expression of their Cabardès grapes as directly as possible, without artifice, Ventenac prefers to produce single-varietal wines. The wines from Ventenac’s estate therefore leave a lasting impression. They are true hallmarks of flavor.

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Modernity and quality: the key to success!

To bring their project to fruition, Olivier and his wife are innovating and refining their vineyard management and winemaking techniques. They are investing heavily to significantly improve the quality of the wines they produce. A shared goal guides their efforts: to respect the land by going even further than the standards set for organic viticulture.

Olivier has released a range of wines that embody what he believes to be the essence of Maison Ventenac. Here is a small selection of his wines:

-Jeanne Red Reserve 2020: A wine focused on freshness and enlivened by intense red fruit aromas. On the palate, the wine is perfectly balanced, enveloped by fine, elegant tannins.

-L’idiot rouge 2021: This 100% Merlot is captivating. It features notes of sour cherries. It is a rich, captivating, and well-defined wine that will age beautifully for 2 to 4 years.

-Le Paria Rouge 2021: “Once upon a time, there was an unwanted grape variety planted in our local region. Not ‘mature enough’ for some, ‘out of place’ for others. ‘Just perfect’ in our opinion. These are the words of winemaker Olivier Ramé to describe this magnificent cuvée. Le Paria is a wine with a subtle nose that reveals notes of red fruit. On the palate, it offers beautiful finesse; it is a true delight.

Each has its own character, unadulterated thanks to meticulous aging in 2,000-liter casks or even 150- or 500-liter jars. The result? Uncompromising, precise, and direct wines. A punch—but one that feels good! One that wakes you up. One that tells you that not everything is standardized, that not everything is uniform, but rather unique!

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