Domaine de Vénus: The Organic Transition Challenge
Located in the heart of the upper Agly Valley in the Catalan hinterland, the Domaine de Vénusa was founded 13 years ago. The estate’s history is quite unusual: 10 wine enthusiasts came together to launch a project driven by a strong desire to create great wines.
The Domaine de Vénus: The Surprising Story of 10 Wine Enthusiasts in Roussillon
The story of Domaine de Vénus begins with Jean-Luc Coupet and Jean-François Nègre, along with eight other wine-loving friends—including myself, the estate’s sales director. Our goal: to create great wines.
The estate’s motto is, in fact, a quote from Leonardo da Vinci that perfectly captures the philosophy of all the partners:
“Happiness comes to people where great wines are born.”
The estate’s 20 current partners come from a wide variety of sectors and industries, such as banking and insurance, but we all have one thing in common: we are all wine enthusiasts. This diversity is also reflected in the 40 plots scattered across the Côtes Catalanes, Côtes de Roussillon, Côtes de Roussillon Village, and Maury appellations. Nine different native grape varieties, some over a century old, with varied exposures but a shared terroir: the black schist soils of the upper Agly Valley.
Alice Euvrard wins in Roussillon
The estate was originally established with 7 hectares of vineyards and has recently expanded to 60 hectares. This latest 15-hectare expansion in the Maury appellation took place in December 2015 following the acquisition of an estate in the neighboring village of Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet.
Today, we are not only able to expand our vineyard but, more importantly, to add new dimensions to our wine portfolio. This latest 15-hectare expansion, which is already certified organic, allows Domaine de Vénus to lay the foundation for our new challenge.
Our Estate's Favorite Cuvées:
A new challenge for Domaine de Vénus: the transition to organic farming
The name of the estate was chosen to pay tribute to the creation of elegant, feminine wines in the somewhat rugged, even macho environment of this high valley in the Pyrénées-Orientales, and I am very proud to be part of this adventure. We have built our vineyard with passion and continue to tackle a host of challenges day after day.
Today, we are able to produce exceptional wines in a vineyard that was not known for this 15 years ago. The vines are grown in a harsh environment, at an altitude of between 300 and 500 meters. Another major challenge that we have successfully overcome—and of which we are very proud—is that we have managed to create fresh white wines in a region known for its full-bodied reds. We aim to champion authentic wines with highly personal blends rather than overly technical wines or those with heavy oak influence.
Within three years, our entire vineyard will have transitioned to organic farming and will be better able to meet our team’s standards. We’ve chosen to focus on low yields, hand-harvesting, traditional winemaking, and minimal use of oak barrels. And thanks to the diversity of our vineyard, we’re able to create unique blends that we’re very proud of.
The success of Domaine de Vénus’s “L’Effrontée” vintage
Nestled beneath the Cathar castles of the upper Agly Valley, the wines of Domaine de Vénus are considered among the finest, thanks in particular to our white wine, “l’Effrontée.”This cuvée is served by several Michelin-starred chefs and is highly sought after both in France and abroad.
Our red wines, perhaps more traditional in style, are also well worth exploring. We vinify each vineyard block separately, offering endless possibilities for blending. Our range of cuvées ensures that everyone can find the red wine that suits them best—from the most fruity, fresh, and light to the richest, most structured, and complex. All you have to do is choose your Grand Vin!
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