They are around 60 winegrowers working at the cooperative. The vineyard is cultivated with family since many generations.

Hand picking all our grapes is the key to our quality.

Once harvested, the grapes are carried in small crates, and mechanically raised above the tanks. They are then moved by gravity to the fermentation vat to undergo carbonic maceration. Using this process, the grapes are not damaged or crushed from the field to the tank. They remain intact up until inside the vat, rendering the best of their fruit.
Castelmaure has always worked with the environment, harvest is 100 % handpicked. We already have the High Environmental Value certification for half of the vineyard, reducing treatments in the vineyards to a minimum. Also, nearly a third of the vineyard is on its way to being organic.

Encircled with stones and rocks, Embres-et-Castelmaure nestles deep in the Corbières, between scrubland and maquis. There are two roads leading to the village, on the border of France and the ancient country of Aragon, at the feet of the Pyrenees mountains.

And the other side of the mountain range lies the Mediterranean Sea.

In the middle of vineyards one finds the ruins of a castle which has given us our name, Castelmaure. And following the path lined with the wise Montpellier Maple trees we come to the romane chapel, St Felix, surrounded by pointed cypres and green oaks.

Hand picking all our grapes is the key to our quality. Once harvested, the grapes are carried in small crates, and mechanically raised above the tanks. They are then moved by gravity to the fermentation vat to undergo carbonic maceration. Using this process, the grapes are not damaged or crushed from the field to the tank. They remain intact up until inside the vat, rendering the best of their fruit.

Castelmaure has always worked with the environment, harvest is 100 % handpicked.  We already have the High Environmental Value certification for half of the vineyard, reducing treatments in the vineyards to a minimum. Also, nearly a third of the vineyard is on its way to being organic.

In 1985, Castelmaure signed a commercial partnership with maison Jeanjean. A famous winegrower and distributor from the south of France. The winery is vinifying a specific range of wine exclusively distributed by Jeanjean to supermarkets and export.

You will find in this portfolio, very fruity wines like the Castelmaure red and rosé, in bottle or in Bag in Box, original wines like “les deux crêtes” but also serious wines aged in oak or wooden vat like les Hauts de Castelmaure or l’Extrême.

Vintage 2022

Years may follow one another, but they are not alike. 2022 feels like a relief after the 2021 harvest.

It all began with a rather short and relatively mild winter. At Castelmaure, we were fortunate to have small regular rains throughout the growing season. As luck would have it, these rains fell at the right time, and flowering went very well with a good rate of fruit set.

From late June, the rain ceased. Apart from a small storm during the summer, the weather remained very dry and exceptionally hot, with August breaking all records. Nevertheless, the soil’s water reserve and the vine’s good health prevented any water stress or sunburn.

By grace, we had a light rain shower the day before the harvest, which helped the top selections ripen nicely.

We ended up with a very balanced vintage, with Grenache and Syrah showcasing their fruity character and a lot of smoothness on the palate. The Carignan grapes are very lovely this year and relatively rich. Overall, the wines are beautiful, with a sought-after drinkability! This vintage will be ready quickly and easily enjoyable!