Plaimont

From Armagnac country to the driving force of the Sud Ouest

In the mid-1970s, the wine country of Gascony was largely reduced to Armagnac production – table wine was hardly considered a worthwhile goal. André Dubosc, a winemaker from a family rooted in the Gers for three generations, saw things differently. Together with a team of young winemakers, he began to produce dry white wines, to awaken the Saint Mont appellation from its slumber, and to revitalize the Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh with late-harvest grapes. In 1979, the cooperatives of Plaisance, Aignan, and Saint-Mont joined forces – the name Plaimont was created from the initial letters. Later, other cooperatives joined, including Crouseilles and Condom. Today, Plaimont unites around 600 winegrower families on a good 5,300 hectares of vineyard area and is responsible for 98% of the entire AOC Saint Mont production.

Craft, research, and the preservation of a heritage

Plaimont sees itself not as a mere wine producer, but as a guardian of a living cultural heritage. In 2002, the cooperative founded the first private ampelographic conservatory in France in Saint-Mont – a research institution that saves rare autochthonous grape varieties from disappearing and documents them for future generations. This includes pre-phylloxera ancient vines over 200 years old, which are classified as a Historical Monument. In the vineyard, Plaimont focuses on sustainable management: CSR initiatives, HVE3 certification, and organic farming on parts of the area, reduction of plant protection product use through forecasting models, hand-harvesting, and immediate processing of the grapes to ensure fruit freshness. Old sites are worked plot-by-plot, and grape varieties are planted according to soil and microclimate. In the cellar, air-conditioned oak maturation facilities stand alongside an experimental wine laboratory that tests new vinification paths for the challenges of climate change.

Gascon character wines between the Pyrenees and the Atlantic

Plaimont's vineyards are located in one of the most climatically interesting corners of France: about 80 kilometers from the Pyrenees, about the same distance from the Atlantic, with soils of molasse, sand, and clay. The wines reflect this intermediate space – fresh and aromatic like the oceanic climate, yet with the structure and weight provided by the sunny summers of Gascony. For the white wines, the regional varieties Colombard, Gros Manseng, and Arrufiac are the focus: lively acidity, aromas of citrus, white peach, and exotic fruits. The red wines of the Saint Mont and Madiran appellations rely on Tannat, Cabernet Franc, and the almost forgotten Pinenc variety – with dark fruit, a firm structure, and depth. The range extends from the accessible Terres and Fleur d'Artagnan lines to the Château cuvées of the Plaimont Terroirs & Châteaux label, which come from the historic estates around Saint-Mont.