Renegades of the South

Domaine Turner Pageot and Chateau Terre Forte bring their biodynamic sensibilities to two regions steeped in old world tradition.

The sun-drenched hills of the Languedoc and the hot stones of the Southern Rhone often evoke memories of over-extracted red wine served too warm, but this duo of rebellious winemaking couples are not afraid to break with tradition in pursuit of freshness.

At Chateau Terre Forte, Nadine and Pierre farm their 25 hectares thoughtfully, tasting and caring for each individual parcel with the attention to detail inherent in biodynamic principles. To showcase the terroir of their estate to its fullest, the wines are aged in concrete with minimal sulphur. They also have llamas!

Further south, in the town of Gabian, Karen and Emmanuel have created Domaine Turner Pageot to showcase the natural elegance of the Languedoc. All of the work done by hand in their 10 hectares of north facing slopes is masterfully elaborated in the winery. Long, cool fermentations and extended skin contact coax out unexpected tropical aromas and rich velvety textures.

While they operate in different appellations, I see so much in common between these two husband-and-wife wine growers. Their dedication to caring for the land extends beyond the phenomenal results in the winery, and into future generations of farmers inheriting their legacy of living soil and true terroir. I cannot wait to share these wines with you all and learn more about Turner Pageot and Terre Forte along the way!