Les Hautes Terres
France
Les Hautes Terres, run by Geneviève and Gilles Azam, is an idyllic estate nestled on the slopes of the Aude Valley. The couple have been slowly building the domain over the past 20 years, and they take pride in their deep knowledge and understanding of the land.
The estate sits at high altitude where the soil and climate can be unforgiving, but Geneviève and Gilles face this with grit and patience, putting complete faith in nature’s process. They believe this isn't something to be tinkered with, so their operation runs strictly along organic lines. The grapes yields are low to ensure quality, and they are harvested by hand so as not to damage the vines, and this level pf care is evident in wines like their popular Cremant Joséphine.
In the cellar, grapes are gently pressed before being left to ferment spontaneously with native yeasts. The wines are unfined and minimal sulphur is added. The end product is wine of sharp character and unique vitality, an honest reflection of the effort and precision of Geneviève and Gilles.
