A cooperative of the south as a brand architect
Cheval d'Or is a commercial brand of Les Vignobles Foncalieu, one of France's largest wine cooperatives based in Arzens near Carcassonne. The origins of the cooperative reach back to the year 1901, when the first wine cooperative in France was founded in Maraussan in the Languedoc. Under the current name Foncalieu – composed of the place names Fontiès d'Aude, Capendu, Alzonne and Montolieu – several wineries joined together in 1967 to form a powerful cooperative unit. Since then, the network has grown steadily and today unites around 650 winegrowers who together cultivate about 4,000 hectares of vineyard in the heart of the Languedoc.
The territory extends from the hills of the Corbières massif to the Mediterranean coast, from the mistral-swept high altitudes to the sun-drenched plains between Carcassonne and Béziers. Cheval d'Or draws from this broad pool of terroirs in the IGP Pays d'Oc – France's largest and one of the oldest wine-growing regions of all, in which the Romans already planted vines.
Cooperative craft, controlled cellar work
Behind Cheval d'Or lies a clear cellar-management concept: Fully ripe grapes are harvested in the early morning hours to preserve the natural freshness of the berries. In the cellar, gentle pressing, must clarification and temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks follow – a process that protects the varietal fruit aromas and carries freshness into the wine. The Syrah Rosé subsequently matures briefly on the fine lees, which gives the wine a little more texture and length without overpowering its fresh character.
Since its founding, Foncalieu has seen itself as a community project: The cooperative gives smaller wine-growing businesses the infrastructure and marketing know-how that they could not build up on their own. That this model works is shown by the award as the best cooperative in France by the Revue des Vins de France in 2012 as well as the inclusion in the list of the 50 most well-known wine brands worldwide by the trade magazine Drinks International in 2017.
Varietally true everyday wines from the Pays d'Oc
Cheval d'Or stands for varietally pure, accessible wines that bring the potential of the sun-drenched Languedoc terroir into the bottle without detours. The range includes classic grape varieties of the south and international cuisine: The Syrah Rosé shows a bright pink color, raspberry and red berries in the nose, lively acidity on the palate – a wine for the table outdoors, with salad dishes, grilled vegetables or light poultry dishes. The Sauvignon Blanc relies on the fresh, citrus- and herb-toned side of the grape variety, as it is expressed in the Mediterranean climate of the Pays d'Oc – drinkable and direct. In addition, the range includes Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, all of which are vinified as varietal wines and designed for fruit clarity.
