More th a wine este, a love story

EstateWe fell in love with Argentiès at first sight.

A historic estate with 400 hectares of breathtaking Mediterranean landscape in the South of France...

A region renowned as the birthplace of French wine and the concept of Romantic love... Overnight, we were transformed from urbanites into gentlemen-farmers with a dream:

to create a haven for sublime French wine, gastronomy and hospitality.

Blen & Pierre Alain

Château Argentiès

Château Argentiès is a spectacular wine estate of over 400 hectares (1000 acres, twice the size of Monaco) in Lagrasse, a remote medieval village in the south of France listed as one of the most beautiful villages in the country. The property once belonged to the Abbey of Lagrasse founded by Emperor Charlemagne in 778 AD and considered among France’s wealthiest and most powerful abbeys with authorities reaching throughout the whole of southern Europe. In 1793, when the French revolution led to the confiscation of properties owned by nobles and churches, Argentiès was bought at auction by the first of only two French families to own it until we acquired it in January 2011.

We are Pierre Alain Grossenbacher and Blen Mekuria-Grossenbacher, a husband and wife team who, inspired by the 2010 documentary Solutions locales pour un désordre global (Local Solutions for Global Problems) and spellbound by the beauty of Argentiès, decided to go back to the land and be part of the solution.

Languedoc-Roussillon Region

The Languedoc-Roussillon is France’s oldest wine region, the home of the highest variety of wine styles and the birthplace of both sparkling and fortified wine and numerous advancements in viticulture. Today, it is France’s most exciting wine region attracting ambitious young winemakers and established prestigious wine brands from around the world.

With its spectacular amphitheater-shaped mountain ranges facing the Mediterranean Sea and its vineyards and rolling hills studded with cypress and pine trees, the Languedoc offers breathtaking sights and shares its rich heritage through its ancient castles, medieval abbeys, museums, wines and Michelin-starred restaurants.

May 2013 - Gorges of Congoust at Château Argentiès. March 2012 - Blen & Pierre Alain by the lake at Argentiès,expecting Alexandre who was born a month later.

WinesWe don’t believe in beating wine into submission and shaping it into what it isn’t.

Our wines have integrity, character and a backbone. Blen & Pierre Alain

Our first vintage, named in honor of our region the Languedoc, features a trio of singular red wines that combine power, elegance and complexity and are only crafted once.

Occitania 2011

Round, supple and generous. A deep and brilliant garnet, this wine is full, rich and perfumed. At first nuances of wheat and fresh yeast and then notes of stone fruits, black cherry, and spices.BLEND: Grenache 90%, Syrah 10%APPELLATION: Wine of FrancePRODUCTION: Limited to 535 cases

Septimania 2011

Plump, rich and generous. A brilliant red, this wine is sun-drenched and expressive. It has notes of sweet spices, violette, chocolate, fig and mature fruit. Savory tannins and a long finish.BLEND: Grenache 80%, Carignan 20%APPELLATION: Wine of France PRODUCTION: Limited to 670 cases

Gallia 2011

Dense, noble and elegant. A deep garnet, this complex and concentrated wine reveals notes of fresh réglisse, mature red fruit, spices, and toast with lovely tannins.BLEND: Syrah 85%, Grenache | Carignan | Mourvedre | Cinsault 15%APPELLATION: Wine of France PRODUCTION: Limited to 935 cases

Bottle NotesOur arresting bottle is the design of 3 Michelin-starred Spanish chef and winemaker Martin Berasategui. We are the first winery to use this bottle, which fits into a standard cellar or presentation box.

Winery

For our wines to express their true flavor by capturing our terroir or sense of place and the nature of the vintage, we use no or minimal intervention in the winemaking process and craft each wine only once.

We vinify each vineyard parcel separately in small stainless steel tanks which allows for precision-temperature control, perfect hygiene and full expression of the grapes. We use absolutely no additives in our wines: no sugar, no artificial enzymes, no recourse to acidification or other adjustments. Our wines are neither filtered nor fined, retaining body and full flavor. We use minimal sulfites, which protect the wine, only when absolutely necessary and made our 2011 vintage without any sulphur dioxide added. We currently use commercial yeasts and look forward to using native yeasts beginning in 2015.

Vineyards

It’s all fun, games and profits until someone destroys the planet. Blen & Pierre AlainPlants are not just able to live; they are able to sense. Stefano Mancuso, Plant Neurobiologist

Once we accept the beauty, intelligence and power of nature, it becomes inconceivable to use traditional methods of viticulture. This is why we chose the Languedoc, whose dry Mediterranean climate is ideal for organic and biodynamic agriculture.

Our 35 hectares (86 acres) of vineyards are divided into twenty small parcels spread out around our 400 hectares (1000 acres) estate and nestled into pine and cypress forests, wild mediterranean shrubs and the rocks of the Alaric mountain. A majority of our vines are old, ranging from 20 to 50 years of age, low-yielding and producing high quality grapes. Our varietals include Syrah, Grenache (black, grey, white), Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan, Muscat à Petits Grains, Viognier and Picpoul. The noble black grapes Syrah and Grenache make up 70% of our plantings and we currently only make red wines. Our vineyards are entirely chemical-free: no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides or herbicides. We use organic and biodynamic treatments along with plant infusions to protect and fortify our plants and enrich the soil. We hand-harvest and hand-prune. We pull out weeds mechanically and by hand. We remove leaves by hand and depend on the Languedoc’s famous winds to prevent rot after rare but heavy rains. We reinforce the biodiversity by planting Mediterranean shrubs along the vineyards and we have a local beekeeper who keeps his hives around the property.

Beginning in Fall 2013, we practice biodynamic viticulture based on Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy which takes a holistic view of a vineyard, from soil fertility and plant growth to livestock care and the influence of the moon and the cosmos. Soon, we will introduce animals and music in the vineyards.

May 2013 - Amid a pine forest, one of our vineyards in traditional gobelet (bush trained) with plantings of mustard and edelweiss between the rows to enrich the soil.

Events & VisitsIn wine, content is king; but context is God.

Let’s meet and get to know each other over some wine. Your region or ours.

Blen & Pierre Alain

Tours & TastingsYou will take a guided tour of our organic and biodynamic vineyards to discover our property’s and the region’s fascinating history, followed by a visit of our cellar and a tasting of our wines. Available from July 2014.

Winemaker Dinners We will host a series of wine dinners at our estate in the south of France and in superlative locations around the world. Our dinners will feature our wines and other Grand Crus of the Languedoc accompanied by the best of southern French cuisine. Available from July 2014.

Flight over our vineyards and Cathar castlesA customized 90-minute ride in an ultralight aircraft over our estate, the Abbey of Lagrasse and surrounding region. Available from July 2014.

Boat ride on Canal du MidiA private guided ride on a luxury barge for an afternoon on the Canal du Midi catered with our wine and local delicacies. Available from July 2014.

Private catered lunch among our vineyardsWe will set up a table for you in one of the most picturesque areas in our vineyards and serve you a four-course lunch featuring our wines and southern French cuisine from our farm-to-table restaurant. Available from July 2015.

Harvest SeasonWe will accept a limited number of guests at our hotel to share the extraordinary experience of the wine harvest. Available from September 2015.

Deux-Chevaux Picnic You or your guide will drive one of our iconic 2CV (deux-chevaux), the mythic and beloved French car, for a tour of our property and stop at your ideal spot to enjoy the picnic basket that we have packed for you. Available from July 2015.

Pilgrimage PicnicYou will be guided on a leisurely hike to the ruins of the 1000-old priory on our property, the Priory of St Michel of Nahuze, at the top of the Alaric Mountain. Upon arrival, we will chant the traditional cantic asking for rain then settle down for a delicious picnic lunch overlooking the majestic views of Corbières lands. Available from July 2015.

Blend your own Grand CruA must for budding oenologists! After a visit of our estate, you are invited to taste the vineyard’s different grape varieties and depending on your affinities, you create a blend to suit your own tastes. Available from July 2015.

Wine MasterclassThe Wine Masterclass is a intensive wine course melding first-class instruction with hands-on opportunities in the vineyard, winery and tasting rooms. It will be the ideal convergence of the experienced instructors and prestigious wines of auction-house courses, the rigorous approach of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and the pleasure of casual tasting events. Available from July 2015.

To find out more about these and other upcoming events, please visit our website www.argenties.com and sign up for our newsletter. Please note that these dates may change - please refer to our website for updates.

Coming Soon

Château Argentiès will become the first fully immersive wine experience in a luxurious and relaxed setting

that celebrates nature, the luxury of space and silence,

and the region’s Occitan and French culture. Blen & Pierre Alain

Surrounded by a breathtaking 400-hectare (1000-acre) Mediterranean landscape, Château Argentiès is a dream property, an escape from the noise, pollution and stress of modern life, and an opportunity to rediscover nature.

While the previous owners had carefully tended to the vineyards, they had left the extensive buildings in near ruins. We are rebuilding all the structures using the highest quality and the most environmentally friendly materials. ResidenceWe are renovating our 200-year old manor into a luxury boutique hotel of 20 junior and master suites. Unique in its class, our hotel will combine 5-star luxury comfort and creative escapism with the relaxed and friendly environment of a private residence.

Each sumptuous room, named after an iconic French film, will meld classic and modern design and be individually decorated with handmade marquetry wood flooring, designer wallpapers such as Farrow and Ball, and custom handmade beds. These extra-large suites will feature Frette and Treca luxury bedding and linen, complimentary stocked minibars, Nespresso coffee machines, an ihome stand with an ipod filled with curated French music, flat screen TV with an extensive selection of French movies and more. Marble bathrooms with 2-person walk-in showers, clawfooted bathtubs, retro furnishings, antique cabinets, Frette bathrobes and luxury amenities will complete our suites. Services will include breakfast in bed like in the old movies.

For the ultimate in escapism and nature-bonding, we will have luxuriously-outfitted gypsy caravans, log cabins, tree houses and tents hidden around the property.

There will be a swimming pool, a mud bath, and flood-lit tennis and petanque courts.

SpaA vinotherapy spa using products from our own organic and biodynamic winery and farm with sauna, steambath and a gym.

Restaurant A farm-to-table restaurant open all day and serving French mediterranean dishes based on organic produce from our own property and local farms. Picnic baskets created to dine anytime and anywhere on the property.

Organic farm We are planting an organic and biodynamic kitchen garden with fruit trees, olive trees and vegetables. Next to the kitchen garden, we’ll have a chicken coop and further away, we’ll introduce goats and sheep. Our organic farm will provide our restaurant with seasonal fruits and vegetables and fresh eggs every morning. Once we have our professional kitchen built, we will make our own olive oil, homemade jams and cheese.

To be fully completed in 2017. Certain services available beginning in Summer 2015.

To be informed when we begin accepting bookings, please visit our website www.argenties.com and sign up for our newsletter. You may also email us at bonjour@argenties.com to be added to our mailing list.

CONTACT USWe’d love to hear from you so don’t hesitate to contact us!

The best way to contact us is by email:General Inquiries bonjour@argenties.comTrade trade@argenties.comMedia media@argenties.com

You can also visit our website www.argenties.com and fill out the contact form or use the chat feature to send us a message.

If you prefer to call us, please know that we’re usually in the vineyards, in the cellar or taking the obligatory southern French sieste (afternoon nap), so please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as we can.+33 (0)468 495 932

Please visit our website for additional information and goodies like wine playlists, quotes and online store:www.argenties.com

Let’s connect on:Facebook www.facebook.com/ArgentiesEscaudiesTwitter www.twitter.com/ArgentiesLinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/ArgentiesEscaudies

You don’t want to miss our latest news do you?Sign up for our fabulous newsletter on our website www.argenties.com.

We’d be delighted to have you visit us by appointmentPlease call or email for an appointment ahead of time so that we can devote our attention to you during your visit.

By car: in your GPS enter ‘Lagrasse’ for city and ‘Argenties’ for street.

By plane: the closest airports are:• Carcassonne (CCF): 45 minutes drive to Argentiès, served by Ryanair direct from Paris (Beauvais), UK (Standsted), Belgium (Charles Roi)• Toulouse (TLS): 90 minutes drive to Argentiès• Montpellier (MPL): 90 minutes drive to Argentiès

Château Argentiès11220 Lagrasse

France

+33 (0)468 912 912bonjour@argenties.com

www.argenties.com