From the old sheep farm to the Freund family winery
Domaine La Grange in Gabian looks back on around 200 years of history. Founded by the Sabatier family, the estate was more than just a wine-growing business from the very beginning: olive trees, sheep farming, and vineyards formed a single unit — the name "La Grange," French for barn, refers to these agricultural roots. A decisive turning point was marked in 2007 when Rolf and Renate Freund took over the domaine. For Rolf Freund, the place had been familiar since his youth: as a young man, he spent time in the wild nature of the Haut-Languedoc and developed a deep connection to the landscape and viticulture. From this personal history grew the decision to take over and further develop the estate. Today, Johanna and Daniel Freund continue the path they have chosen, combining the history of the house with a contemporary orientation.
Garrigue, sheep, and the HVE seal
The winery is located on the edge of the Haut-Languedoc Nature Park at an altitude of around 250 meters, nestled between garrigue, old volcanic hills, and the breeze from the Mediterranean. Warm days, cool nights, and barren, mineral soils characterize the terroir. Thyme and rosemary grow between the vine rows — their influence on the aroma profile of the wines is palpable. With the takeover by the Freund family, the estate was converted to organic viticulture: sheep graze the vineyards as an alternative to mechanical soil cultivation, hedges structure the areas and strengthen biodiversity. In the cellar, they work as gently as possible — supplemented by modern stainless steel and concrete tanks as well as targeted wooden barrel aging. The commitment is bearing fruit: La Grange is certified according to Terra Vitis and carries the state seal HVE Level 3 (Haute Valeur Environnementale), the highest level of this French award. The renowned oenologist Kyriakos Kynigopoulos acts as a consultant, and specialist Eric Martin is on hand for olive oil production.
Four lines, one terroir: from accessible IGP to the Pézenas peak
The range is divided into four clearly defined lines. The Terroir wines — including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot as IGP Pays d'Oc — show site-typical grape variety characteristics with Mediterranean fruit and a clear acid structure, accessible and suitable for everyday use. The Tradition cuvées draw from the Prat Bibal, Pabiro, Redon, and other named parcels and combine southern French grape varieties such as Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Carignan into rich cuvées with garrigue character. At the top are the Castalides wines in the AOP Languedoc Pézenas: they come from the oldest and best vine sites, their name goes back to the water nymphs who, according to legend, guard the estate's wells. The range is supplemented by extra virgin olive oils, produced from the estate's own olive trees — proof that La Grange still lives the holistic aspiration of its founders today: wine, oil, and nature as an inseparable unit.
