At the foot of the Fenouillèdes mountain ranges lies Domaine la Bancale, run by the young couple Bastien Baillet and Céline Schuers. A turbulent landscape subject to a dry and arid climate, poor rocky soils and hard, constant cold winds from the mountains (also called the tramontana). Yet Bastien and Céline know how to produce very unique and light-footed southern French wines here.
Originally from Northern France, the couple met in their teens. They quickly discovered that they shared a love of nature and agriculture. Together they moved to the south where Bastien studied viticulture in Montpellier and worked together at various domaines in the Languedoc and Roussillon. Thanks to a -rather specific- fascination for the local Carignan grape, they apprenticed at both Domaine Tribouley and Domaine de l'Ausseil. No small names!
In 2014, Bastian and Céline bought their own piece of land of just one hectare of old vines, near Fenouillèdes. Over time, small plots of old vines have been added and they are currently at 5 hectares of only local grape varieties and vines that are mostly 70+ years old, with a few small exceptions here and there.
To produce these beautiful characteristic, terroir wines, Domaine la Bancale works as biodynamically and naturally as possible. The couple is young and incredibly ambitious. We notice that they have an incredibly good feeling for the area, the plants and the grapes. Bastien & Céline have only had a few vintages, but the quality is already so impressive! A promising future..
