From the Fontfroide Abbey to Baron Éric de Rothschild
The history of Domaine d'Aussières dates back to antiquity: the vineyards and cellars of this small village in the Corbières AOC have been writing history for over 2,000 years. In the Middle Ages, various abbeys took control of the area until 1790, when all church estates were confiscated and private owners took over the vineyards. The chais are built into the estate's old caves, which date back to the Middle Ages — at that time, property of the Fontfroide Abbey.
This eventful heritage and the unusually cool microclimate of the sites attracted Baron Éric de Rothschild; in 1999, he added the Domaine to the portfolio of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). The estate buildings were restored and a new winery was established above the old caves in the heart of the vineyard. Today, Aussières stands for a project that combines Bordeaux discipline with the strength of character of Southern France — without subordinating one to the other.
Organic farming, biodiversity and a village as a habitat
The Domaine covers around 550 hectares south of Narbonne, in the heart of the Corbières. At its center lies a 180-hectare vineyard, which is managed according to the rules of organic farming. Only about a third of the total area is used for cultivation — the rest remains forest and garrigue, deliberately to promote biodiversity. Surrounded by garrigue, olive groves, and wooded hills, the estate also houses a protected reserve of the Bird Protection League.
From the vine to the cellar, the work follows the guidelines of organic farming. The Domaine remains true to its non-interventionist philosophy in order to leave the expression of the terroir as unadulterated as possible. In the cellar, the team works with local consultant Matthieu Dubernet from Narbonne — deliberately without resorting to the Bordeaux expertise of the Lafite house, in order to preserve the independence of the Southern French character. Since December 2023, the Domaine has also been B Corp certified.
Red wines from steep slopes, a rosé for everyday life
The higher-altitude vineyards with their comparatively cool microclimate and selective harvesting philosophy ensure a pleasant balance and lively freshness in every wine — unusual for these otherwise very hot latitudes. The range extends from the accessible entry-level wine to the Château d'Aussières as the estate's Grand Vin. The grapes for the Château come from selected plots on the upper slopes: the soils there are very shallow, sandy-sandstone-like with a low clay content — this results in extremely low yields. Syrah is blended with Mourvèdre.
Grenache and Carignan complement the range in the more accessible cuvées such as Blason and Jardins d'Aussières, which reflect the warm, garrigue-influenced character of the Corbières more directly. The A d'Aussières Rosé as an IGP Pays d'Oc comes from dedicated plots whose conditions are optimal for a balanced rosé. What all wines have in common: they taste of this specific piece of land south of Narbonne — of wild herb bushes, dark fruit, a salty finish, and a freshness that one does not necessarily expect here.
