Tariquet

While some may consider Domaine Tariquet’s wines to be “technological” due to their rather innovative winemaking methods, this has not prevented them from winning numerous awards. Thanks to its wide variety of grape varieties (Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin, Sémillon, Gros Manseng, and Petit Manseng), as well as its clay-limestone soils, boulbènes, and fawn-colored sands, Domaine Tariquet produces balanced, fresh, and fruity wines labeled under the IGP Côtes de Gascogne. 

Long known for its Bas-Armagnacs, Domaine Tariquet has grown over the past forty years to become Europe’s largest family-owned winery. Recognized as the king of festive white wines, Domaine Tariquet now cultivates 1,125 hectares of vineyards in Gascony, up from 40 hectares in 1972. Each year, Domaine Tariquet produces 9 million bottles of wine with no other aim than to provide enjoyment, adhering to the estate’s sole principle: “Good quality at the best price.”

Tariquet: The Finest Wines, From Father to Son

Around 1982, the Grassa family set out to provide the French with high-quality white wine. Now a century old, the company remains entirely family-owned and operates the largest vineyard in France, with annual revenue exceeding thirty million euros. The company also employs over a hundred people and has won numerous awards for excellence. While the story is a beautiful one, for the Grassas it is one of many challenges overcome over the years, a passion for viticulture, and a fabulous family adventure.

A Family Journey: From the Beginning to the Present Day

Located in Eauze in the Gers department, the Tariquet Estate dates back to the last century. More specifically, in 1912, the Artaud patriarchs—father and son—acquired the Tariquet estate as their own property. Then, a generation later, it was their daughter Hélène’s turn to take charge of the family estate alongside her husband Pierre in the 1940s. Subsequently, around 1972, their children Yves and Maïté took the reins of the business. Around 1982, as the marketing of Armagnac became increasingly difficult, Yves Grassa had the foresight to shift the Tariquet estate toward wine production. Today, it is Yves’s children, Rémy and Amin, who steer the family business and strive to infuse it with new vitality and, above all, a touch of modernity.

Tariquet: High-quality wines

White wine—and not just any white wine—has become the specialty of the Tariquet estate. The best-known is the “ First thrushes ", a sweet wine that is highly appreciated as an aperitif. Then there is the Cuvée Classic, made from six grape varieties (Gros Manseng, Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Chenin, Sauvignon, and Chardonnay), and the "Dernières Grives," which are a delight to the palate for those who appreciate fine wine. Furthermore, the blend of Ugni Blanc and Colombard has given rise to the “Classic” wine, a dry and fruity wine of magnificent intensity, very open to floral and citrus aromas, endowed with beautiful exotic nuances, and yet offered at a very affordable price. The Classic is also known because its production does not use sulfites in the vinification of wines intended for the production of spirits. 

Furthermore, Domaine Tariquet is by no means limited to wine production; it also produces AOC Bas-Armagnacs, Blanche Armagnac, and a fortified wine. It is worth noting that the 12-year-old Pure Folle Armagnac produced by Domaine Tariquet won the Exceptional Gold Medal and was the winner of the 2018 Armagnac category at the IWSC competition.