From Armagnac distillery to pioneer of the Côtes de Gascogne
Domaine Tariquet is located in Eauze in the heart of the Gers, in the middle of the Gascony of the southwest. The business has its origins in 1683 – at that time exclusively as an Armagnac distillery. It was not until 1912 that Pierre Artaud and his son Jean-Pierre, who had previously worked in New York, bought the estate devastated by phylloxera and thus laid the foundation for the Grassa family of today. Hélène, daughter of the Artauds, married Pierre Grassa in 1946; from then on, the winery has borne the name of this family. In 1972, the next generation, Yves and Maïté Grassa, took over the leadership – and immediately set a first striking sign: they began to bottle the Bas-Armagnacs themselves and market them directly. The decisive step followed in 1982: as the first independent winemakers in the Gers, Yves and Maïté brought white wine into the bottle – grapes that until then had served exclusively for distillation. This break with convention laid the foundation for the Côtes de Gascogne appellation as it is known internationally today. Today, Armin and Rémy's sons, the fifth generation of the family, continue to run the winery.
Agriculture without dogma – Tariquet in the vineyard and cellar
The philosophy of the Grassa family can be summarized in one sentence: to hand over the earth healthy to the next generation. Tariquet has been pursuing its own approach to agriculture since the early 1990s – formalized since 2019 by a CSR approach that is regularly audited externally. The winery is certified according to ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management) and HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale). Armin and Rémy Grassa consciously do not strive for organic certification: instead of dogma, pragmatism is the focus – in each case the best practice from conventional and organic farming, adapted to the respective soil, the microclimate, and the stock. In the vineyard, the Domaine relies on targeted mating disruption against pests instead of pesticides, and increased planting densities – 4,500 vines per hectare instead of the regional norm of 3,300 – to increase grape quality, not yield. In the cellar, the focus is on preserving freshness: the wines are stored at 0 °C in stainless steel tanks and bottled year-round upon receipt of orders to ensure optimal aromatics. Animal fining agents are completely avoided – all wines and Armagnacs of the Domaine are therefore vegan.
Fresh Gascony white wines and aromatic cuvées – what distinguishes the range
Tariquet built its reputation on the conviction that the Gascon Ugni Blanc and Colombard vines can do more than provide distilling wine. Yves and Maïté Grassa supplemented the traditional range with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, as well as Gros and Petit Manseng – combinations that were considered unusual at the time. The result is fresh, aromatic white wines with a clear fruit line, which are based on the Atlantic-influenced climate of Gascony and the sandy to clayey-calcareous soils around Eauze. The Tariquet Classic – Ugni Blanc with Colombard – stands for accessibility and freshness: citrus aromas, lively acidity, no use of wood. Cuvées such as the Chardonnay or the Réserve Blanc appear richer and more structured. The Premières and Dernières Grives from Gros Manseng stand for the Spätlese-like, sweet side of the house – intense fruit, dense acidity. The spectrum is supplemented by Rosé cuvées such as the Marselan Rosé Contradiction as well as the Armagnac, which has been considered the artisanal core of the business since 1683. Tariquet bottles exclusively its own grapes – no purchases, no negoce.
