PIONEERS IN GASCONY
1982, Maïté and Yves’ daring challenge: to produce a white wine in Gascony.
Since its first vintage, Classic has been the estate’s emblematic wine.
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1982, Maïté and Yves’ daring challenge: to produce a white wine in Gascony.
Since its first vintage, Classic has been the estate’s emblematic wine.
The Ugni blanc, historically dedicated to Armagnac: the grape variety that defines the Classic vintage.
Classic was born. Fruit of the oceanic climate, a meticulous viticulture and innovative winemaking that preserves the grapes’ aromatic potential.
Expanding into wines necessitated fundamental changes in the estate’s approach to viticulture. For example, local grape growers traditionally planted 3,300 vines per hectare. Yves decided he would plant at 4,500 per hectare. This increased density meant that each vine would have fewer grape clusters, leading to riper and more concentrated flavours. This is one of the tenets of Domaine Tariquet’s philosophy: it has never been about increasing yields, rather the goal is to improve quality.
Radical changes were also needed in the winemaking process to protect from oxidation risks. To preserve the aromas and freshness of the fruit, Yves wanted to minimise contact with the surrounding air. He devised methods to protect the grapes from oxidation from harvest through to the finished wine stored in tanks at low temperature.
This audacity, this attachment to innovation, is a defining trait of the Grassa family who have always successfully combined modernity and historical know-how. Indeed, it did not take long for Classic to be recognized and awarded a Gold medal in its first vintage alongside a “Félicitations du Jury” in Montpellier, in 1983. An award which would be obtained the following two years. In 1987, the wine was awarded “Wine of the Year” in London.
Gradually, avant-garde wine merchants and restaurateurs decided to list Domaine Tariquet. Its popularity in England and the United States paved the way for its international recognition.
Since its first vintage, Classic embodies the emblematic wine of the estate. And, Ugni blanc remains one of the main grape variety.
This taste for innovation also manifests itself through a particular fondness for the local Gros Mansengand Petit Manseng, grape varieties, not widely used before being put in the spotlight in Gascony by Yves Grassa. He does not hesitate to introduce new grape varieties from other regions in France such as Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Chenin. The estate’s vineyards expand, and new wines are thus created.
At the beginning of the 1980s, the estate cultivated around 100 hectares of vines, to reach about 400 hectares in the mid-1990s.
The early 1990s sees the creation of Premières Grives. Once again, Yves is a pioneer in Gascony by making a fruity and slightly sweet wine using Gros Manseng.
While Yves continues to innovate, Maïté handles the estate’s daily management while hitting the road with her R5, then with her Golf, to offer Domaine Tariquet wines and Armagnacs to wine shops, delicatessen, and restaurants.
Through their complimentary talents, Yves et Maïté are guided by a shared long-term vision and a willingness to challenge themselves.
imbued with the values of their family, Armin and Rémy, in collaboration with their teams, share the common vision to improve viticulture and the vinification of historic vintages. They will also create new and innovative wines.
These developments are based on a strong and immutable foundation: respect for the land. They are focused on improving soil life so that they can pass on healthy soils to future generations.
Yves’ sons, Armin and Rémy, have lived at the estate since birth. They were true winery children, playing in the vineyards, participating in the harvest, climbing on tractors as if they were riding stallions. In doing so, they learned more than simply how to grow grapes and to make wine: they were imbued with the values of their family.
After studying viticulture and oenology in France and abroad – travel shapes the young as they say – the boys returned to Eauze and joined the family enterprise.
Like Maïté and Yves, the boys were relatively young, 28 and 29 years old, when they were given the reigns of Domaine Tariquet in 2005. “Young oaks do not grow in the shade of old oaks” is an adage that we like to say in the Grassa family.
When these two young men took over, the estate counted 750 hectares of vines. Armin and Rémy continued to expand and today, Domaine Tariquet cultivates over 1,125 hectares. An unusual dimension for a single estate.
The Grassa family are proudly independent wine growers and will remain so. In such, all the wines and Armagnacs of Domaine Tariquet come exclusively from the family-owned vineyards.
From planting vines to bottling, everything is done by the winery’s teams
which guarantees the personality and consistency of the estate’s wines and Bas-Armagnacs, vintage after vintage.
Increasing the surface area of land devoted to vines has made it possible to show the diversity of both the soils and the grape varieties which best express the unique characteristics of each terroir.
Armin and Rémy, in collaboration with their teams, share the common vision to create new and innovative wines which combine finesse and freshness, Domaine Tariquet’ signature.
Amplitude, Gros Manseng vinified as a dry white wine; Entracte, A brut nature sparkling wine; Imprévu, An innovative blend of RieslingandUgni blanc with only 9.5% alcohol content.
Montreur d’Ours : A Bas-Armagnac made withPlant de Graisse, a long-forgotten ancient grape variety that has been reinstated by the estate’s team.
The successive generations have never abandoned Domaine Tariquet’s original intent: Armagnac. Each dedicated new parcels of vines to this iconic eau-de-vie. Today, more than a hundred hectares of the estate’s vines are destined to become Armagnac.
This dedication to Armagnac goes beyond simply planting more grapes. Several local historic cellars have been restored to accommodate Domaine Tariquet’s Armagnacs, so that they may age slowly in their oak barrels under ideal conditions.
In keeping with the Grassa family credo, Armin and Rémy have focused on improving soil life so that they can pass on healthy soils to future generations.
This involves respecting soil integrity, planting cover crops, and using organic amendments. They understand that the soil is the lifeblood of the vineyard and requires constant attention
More than 400 hectares of ecological interest area (forests, hedgerows, meadows, and wetlands) are maintained and protected alongside the 1,125 hectares of vines. These natural and semi-natural surfaces are all distributed between the vineyard plots to encourage interaction between these habitats.
They also recognise that human well-being is inexorably tied to the well-being of nature. Domaine Tariquet is fully committed to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
This means perpetuating its territorial roots, maintaining the diversity of skills and careers, while promoting generosity and conviviality.
This focus on sustainable development is a fundamental part of the Long-Term future of Domaine Tariquet.