Jaja, glouglou, good skittles to brighten up cravings and large tables, all made with love by 70 neighbors all in love with their scrubland, welcome to the world of Winegrowers of the Capitelles !
Each terroir has played its role in the great adventure that is viticulture in France. In a complicated moment to manage for winegrowers, three distinct terroirs offer valuable diversity to Capitelles wines.
But first… A capitelle, for the people of the North, thatit's aco ? « It's a small dry stone hut. For winegrowers, it is above all a quiet place to take a good nap between two efforts! » explain the winegrowers who love their terroir.
It must be said that they are aware of the quality of their land and how lucky they are to work it on a daily basis.
Indeed, the Cévennes foothills, with its hot days and cool nights, are among the first to see their grapes ripen. This is where fresh wines are born, with great finesse.
In the Uzetian plain, on stony scrubland soils, it's something completely different. Here, it is a warmer terroir where the grapes quickly reach maturity, offering wines with more power and character.
Finally in Uzès, the Capitelles vines, which come later, benefit from a longer maturation time giving fresh and generous wines. “ A perfect balance, where each terroir brings its unique touch. »
The wine of this cooperative is a bit like a real neighborhood discussion led by old-timers and spiced up by newcomers. The place gives its identity, its color, its local history to the wine, but it is the people who give it a soul when they talk about it while tasting it.
The history of the place? “ We will tell you about it when you come, but in two words here it is. Winegrowers who have passed down their passion from generation to generation since 1927 and who decided to unite in 2016. There are many of us, but the one we hear expressed the most here is nature. It must be said that here she has things to say! »
Laurel, thyme, flowers, dry land and even brush go well together. So much so that we even find a bit of the bouquet garni smell in certain wines.
« Our plots of land are nestled between the Cévennes and the Mediterranean. It's a hell of a place for these vineyards which experience very hot days and very cool nights. It is partly this very contrasting lifestyle for our vines which gives this richness. »
Didier Pascal, president of Capitelles since its creation in 2007 and above all a passionate cooperative winemaker, knows the place perfectly. His grandfather was one of the founders of the Cave de Foissac, at the origin of the Vignerons des Capitelles. For 17 years, Didier has embodied the values of work well done and sharing which are at the heart of the cooperative.
The winegrowers continue, “ We want to let the terroir express itself as much as possible. Several of us are in organic conversion, the others are engaged in the high environmental value approach. We are very proud when an award comes and we received the prize of excellence at the Uzès wine fair which made us particularly happy. »
For now and for end-of-year holiday meals, the Vignerons des Capitelles boutique will charm you with its wide range. At the cellar store or on the Internet, around twenty references will attract your novice or expert eye. From beers to grape juices and various packaging options, it is mainly two vintages that evoke the holidays and their content that we are going to talk about.
For 6.8 euros, we suggest, for example, Terre de Lacré, an IGP Cévennes wine made from Syrah and Marselan. When tasting, we discover a predominant Syrah. The nose tends towards ripe black fruits and spicy notes. On the palate, the tannin is integrated and supple, the blackcurrant and plum go well together. The finish is spicy, long and more refreshing.
This powerful wine will go well with braised red meats, but will go well with pressed cheeses, or in the heart of a bull's gardian. With a pretty garnet color, this red will not fail.
For 7.4 euros, the Merlot CS, an IGP Oc wine, Merlot obviously! At the tasting? Expect a powerful and complex nose as well as notes of ripe black fruits. The spices come immediately with a delicate and flattering tannin. The woodiness is present, bringing complexity and deliciousness thanks to its vanilla notes.
It's current, but this wine goes wonderfully with game and strong meats. It will go very well with world dishes or with a soft cheese. Its tiled color will not make you forget that it is aged in barrels!
Les Vignerons des Capitelles 1289 RD 981 in Euzet (30 360). All year round from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.closed on public holidays. Tel: 04 66 83 51 16 or by email at [email protected]. Obviously… Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation. The sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited to minors.