Domaine de Courbissac

Located in Cesseras, northeast of Carcassonne in the Languedoc region, the Courbissac estate has been led by Brunnehilde Claux since 2013. This passionate young winemaker, a rising star in the Languedoc, first proved her mettle at the renowned Gauby estate and in Spain’s Priorat region, where she was able to develop various winemaking methods. Drawing on her experience, she balances traditional fermentation with destemming against whole-cluster fermentation to preserve fruit and freshness. She produces distinctive and vibrant wines that are driving the growing success of the Courbissac estate and the Minervois appellation.

The 17-hectare Courbissac vineyard lies at the foot of the Montagne Noire and is planted on south-facing slopes at altitudes ranging from 50 to 500 meters. The clay-limestone soils are varied, consisting of pebbles, schist, and sandstone. The estate’s oldest vines are 90 years old, some of which are grafted from French vines—a very rare occurrence. The grape varieties correspond to the traditional plantings ofthe Minervois AOC, with a few exceptions: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Terret, Marsanne, Grenache Gris, and Muscat. What sets this range apart is a white wine known as “orange wine,” as it displays a pronounced orange hue and a pronounced tannic structure resulting from a vinification process involving maceration similar to that used for red wine. The red wines are intense, precise, and always brimming with fruit and freshness—a fine example of Languedoc winemaking.