“The Grape Harvest? Our Reason for Living!”

Jean-Marc Lafage’s wines are served at the Élysée Palace! A source of pride for this winemaker who has winemaking in his blood. First working alongside his father, who made wine in Maury on steep slopes, and then at the helm of his own estate, nestled in the Pyrénées-Orientales, Jean-Marc, the oenologist, has proven his talent. It is with the passion of a winemaker who loves his craft that he answers our questions.

The career of Jean-Marc Lafage, winemaker at Domaine Lafage

In the rural world of the 1970s, boys started helping with outdoor work at a very young age. My father was a winemaker, so naturally, I followed him to the vineyard. We were living in Maury at the time and owned a plot of very old vines situated on a magnificent, extremely steep terroir. No mechanization was possible: everything was done by hand, and the magnificent grapes produced there were the first I was allowed to vinify on my own. It was there, in the silence, at the pace of man, that I discovered both my father and my first passion: the vineyard. I then met my wife Eliane in the classrooms of our wine school, and soon the desire to travel took hold of us. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Spain… As many countries as there were enriching experiences.

Insights from Jean-Marc Lafage of Domaine Lafage

If I had to choose a wine, I would naturally choose La Cuvée Nicolas, made from 100% Grenache Noir. As a great lover of Grenache, this grape variety remains my favorite. I’ve had the chance to make wines from it in all sorts of styles, all over the world. But Les Aspres is a truly exceptional terroir!

Like every winemaker on earth, I think, my favorite time of year is still harvest season! It’s kind of our reason for being—the excitement of the new vintage, the first juices in the cellar… Ours lasts for almost two months.

Wines from Domaine Lafage served at the Élysée Palace

Even though no one is a prophet in their own land, not distributing our wines in France—right here at home—remained a major source of frustration. We’ve been working on this for three years now, with the help of our Sales Director, Jérémy Gaudineau. The results are extremely encouraging… And when I see my wines on a restaurant’s wine list, I’m the first one to feel flattered. But the day I learned that our wines were being served at the Élysée Palace… What a source of pride! Especially outside our department, I love the idea of helping French food lovers rediscover the Roussillon. We can’t wait to see how consumers will receive our wines from this new vintage.

Roussillon: a mosaic of terroirs

A plot of land was for sale in the heart of the Aspres region: Le Vignon. It was an opportunity for my wife and me to embark on a new venture… right here at home. The Roussillon is, above all, a mosaic of terroirs. Among them, we have chosen three as our canvas—the ones we believe are best suited to the profile of the wines we want to produce:

As we travel upriver along the Agly Valley, the Catalan vineyards climb higher and higher. For centuries, they have taken root in black marl and layered schist swept by strong northern winds. Here, we seek out the richness and authenticity of traditional Catalan grape varieties.

It is the coolness of the seaside that we seek for our vineyards, planted on terraces of rounded pebbles from the ancient Quaternary period. They strive to capture the capricious sea breezes. In the late afternoon, the light cloud cover stretching along the coastline brings a salty touch to the vineyard, against a backdrop of invigorating sea spray.

The elegance of the Vignon tradition. Planted in terraces following the contour lines, this vineyard—partly trained in the goblet style—gently hugs the rounded contours of the Pyrenean low reliefs. Unflinchingly exposed to the strong gusts of the overheated Tramontane winds from the scorching summer lands, this terroir, situated at an altitude of 400 meters with a warm climate, vibrates with intensity.

The Influence of Travel on the Vineyards of Domaine Lafage

What did I learn during my trips abroad? To speak English…? More seriously, I learned about the different aspects of our profession, but above all, how to bring out the freshness of each grape variety—even in the hottest climates. That’s very useful when your vineyards are in the Pyrénées-Orientales.

The geographical location of the vineyards of Domaine Lafage, in Roussillon

The fact that the estate is located near the coast brings a refreshing breeze to our vineyards. The sea breeze has a real impact on the grapes, particularly the whites and rosés. That briny, salty character is sure to make an impression.

Find Lafage Estate wines on Les Grappes