Château de Luc: the new generation, 100% female, ready to take over the reins of the business

Château de Luc is located on the terraces of the Alaric, in the heart of the Corbières, on dry, stony, windy and garrigue-covered terroirs. The vines are deeply rooted and produce rich grapes for wines of fine quality. Louis, an emblematic figure of Château de Luc, is beginning to pass on his legacy to the new generation, equally motivated and passionate about the region, wine and history. Jeanne, one of Louis's daughters welcomed us to the estate.

"The terroir: that's where it all begins"

When we arrive at Château de Luc, the visit begins with a stroll around the vineyard plots, through the garrigue, at the very heart of the Fabre family's work. Jeanne tells us that Louis knows the plots of land by heart and in every nook and cranny.

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

Cellars Château de Luc

According to Jeanne: "It is not enough to have a label to define oneself as organic. My parents were involved in this fight long before. The label allows us to formalize the approach and pushes us to think, to improve our methods and practices".

Le Château de Luc : between modernity and tradition

Louis is the figure of Château de Luc: a passionate scientist, but also a poet and philosopher, he is committed to preserving the heritage he received from the family inheritance.The visit of the castle leads us into a small room, a real museum of the place, the village and the region.We have many inventors in the family: my great-grandfather invented a chromatometer and my grandfather invented railcars that allow us to transport the harvested grapes to the vat without damaging them. " says Jeanne. In the family lineage, Louis is also an inventive person concerned about every detail. Self-taught, he pushes problems to their limits in order to provide the most appropriate solutions.

Jeanne tells us: "Technology is like a stained-glass window that must let the sunlight through. It must allow to enhance and sublimate the taste of the soil and the grape in the wine and not hide it and thus standardize the bottles. »

With the help of two oenologists, Stéphane Yerle and Bernard Rehs, the Fabre family is open to innovation and does not hesitate to try new techniques. The latest to date? The use of polymer eggs for the ageing of red wines is currently in the test phase.

The energy of the new generation

Louis is gradually passing on the torch to the new generation: Clémence, Jeanne and Paule, respectively daughters and niece of Louis, have arrived at the château to take over the family business. After long and exciting studies, trips abroad and various work experiences, they return, motivated, full of energy and willpower, to the family home.

Clémence is developing exports to Asia, Jeanne wants to promote wine tourism and Paule is in charge of the château's figures. Patiently and with a lot of passion, Louis transmits to them the keys, the skills, the secrets but also his philosophy of work.

On the side of the wines: concentration and harmony

The result of this alchemy between the generations, tradition and innovation, terroir and grape varieties, are wines of great finesse, which reflect the typicality of the region, express the terroir, share and simply enjoy each other.The range of Château de Luc is available on Les Grappes: expressive, fruity, pleasant, we find the garrigue, spices and flowers that characterize the terroir.

Our advice: go and discover their wide range of wines, spread over several appellations: from the Corbières-Boutenac lands to the alluvial soils of the plains, each wine will seduce you with its character.

Manon Mouly (for Les Grappes)