Fabre Family: Female Succession at Château de Luc

The Fabre family has been based in Languedoc for generations. Each generation has left its mark on the Languedoc region. Louis Fabre has long served as the captain of the entire family crew.

The Fabre Family: one of the oldest winemaking families in the Languedoc region.

Their names are Claire, Louis, Clémence, Jeanne, and Paule. These names come to mind when we think of the Fabre family: a historic family in the Languedoc region. Louis has been at the helm since 1982. A nature lover, he converted the entire vineyard to organic farming, obtaining Ecocert certification in 1992, followed by Level 3 HVE certification in 2014.

Thanks to several estates—five in total—the range of wines is very diverse, reflecting the beauty of the Languedoc region. For example, Château Fabre Gasparets allows the family to produce AOC Cobières-Boutenac wines; an exceptional vintage that yields concentrated, rich, and delicate wines with excellent aging potential. Château de Luc, meanwhile, is located in the heart of Cathar country; Louis and his wife settled there over 30 years ago, when their eldest daughters were born. They primarily produceCorbières AOC wines under the “Les Jumelles” range—three vintages created in honor of Clémence and Jeanne (available in our online store). Today, it is at “Luc” that the family welcomes wine tourists seeking new discoveries. Finally, Château Coulon (Cruscades), Domaine Grande Courtade (Béziers), and Château La Tour de Rieux (Rieux) round out the family’s range of terroirs and AOCs, enabling the production of IGP Pays d’Oc and AOC Minervois wines.

The Fabre Family Winemakers: A Blend of Modernity and Tradition

Louis is the iconic figure of this family of winemakers: a curious scientist, but also a lover of poetry and history, he is committed to preserving the heritage passed down through his family. History, family, and tradition are at the heart of the work and expertise of this intimate, family-run business. At Château de Luc, you’ll find a tiny room—a veritable museum—that speaks to the importance placed on the past… “We have many inventors in the family: my great-grandfather created a colorimeter. He also invented the ‘Wagonnets’: small rail-mounted carts that still allow us today to transport the harvest to the vat without damaging the grapes. In 2016, we released two Pays d’Oc IGPs in tribute to this wonderful invention,” says Jeanne Fabre. Louis is committed to passing this legacy on to his daughters, who are gradually taking the reins of the family business. Jeanne tells us: “Technology is like a stained-glass window that lets sunlight through. It should enhance and elevate the taste of the terroir and the grapes in the wine, not hide it and thus standardize the bottles.”

With the help of its two winemakers, Stéphane Yerle and Bernard Rehs, the Fabre family is embracing innovation and enthusiastically embarking on various experiments. The latest? The use of polymer eggs for aging red wines is currently being tested.

The energy and enthusiasm of the new generation

Louis is gradually passing the torch to the next generation: Clémence, Jeanne, and Paule—Louis’s daughters and niece, respectively—have returned to their roots to take over the family business. After completing their studies, traveling extensively, and gaining diverse work experience, they’ve returned to the family estate, motivated, full of energy, and determined.

Clémence, who is based in Hong Kong, is in charge of developing exports to the Asian market. Jeanne wants to promote wine tourism at Château de Luc and in the Corbières region in general, following an exciting professional experience in South America. Finally, Paule, after returning from England, has decided to do her part by taking charge of the accounting. Every day, Louis passes on to them the keys, the skills, the secrets, and also his work philosophy, before he can retire and let the girls “steer the ship” on their own.

The newest addition to the family: Château La Tour de Rieux

Jeanne, Clémence, and Paule will inherit five properties, including Château La Tour de Rieux, which has very recently joined the list of châteaux and AOCs managed by the Fabre family. “The Minervois Adventure” begins, in particular, with the gradual restoration of the vineyard. Today, about ten hectares planted with a mix of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah are ready for cultivation. True to their convictions and their vision of wine, the Fabres are taking the time to learn, understand, get to know, and discover the full potential of these new lands. The 2016 vintage is the first to feature an AOC Minervois cuvée, bearing the lovely name “Bergerie de Rieux.” Of course, the family’s projects don’t stop there, and we strongly encourage you to follow them closely!

Contact:

Address: 1 Rue du Château, 11200 Luc-sur-Orbieu

Website: https://www.famillefabre.com/

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Email: info@famille-fabre.com