A TERROIR FOR GREAT WINES
Puissalicon is a feudal village in Languedoc-Roussillon, at the edge of the Cévennes. This land full of history in the côtes de Thongue appellation is home to the Domaine La Croix Belle vineyard, which has been owned by our family for more than two centuries. The strength and character of our wines lie mostly in the specificities of our terroir. Vine growing is in its prime location here: the roots provide strength to the plant from a clever mix of clay, limestone, gravel, silt and pebbles; and the fruit ripens under the bright Languedoc sun. The result is surprising, harmonious, balanced and appealing. Privileged on such an exceptional terroir, vines benefit from a great sun exposition, while the adverse effects of the heat are moderated by sea breezes and night winds from the Cévennes, Mistral and Tramontane.
Our principle being that winemaking techniques are vain without grapes of quality, we put particular care to the vine growing activity of our domaine. We practice nature friendly and sustainable farming (culture raisonnée) so that our vines get what they need when they need it. We pay extra attention to ensure that yields are reasonable and balanced so that we can assure grapes are correctly concentrated and matured. Last but not least, trellising is also carried out in order to develop the plant sun-exposed surface area, which optimizes the grape ripening. All these elements, together with the specificities of the climate and soil of our region enable us to offer such excellent quality products.
Domaine La Croix Belle :
Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue.
Soil : Clay and limestone
Underground : Gravel and pebbles
Area : 70 hectares - 175 acres
Grape varieties : 16 varietals
Planting : Renewal of 3 to 9 acres per year.
Planting density : 4400 vines per hectare - 1,780 vines
per acre (spacing: 2,5 m x 0,90 m).
Pruning : The vines are pruned hard to reduce yields
and favor a strong grape concentration (increasing use is being made of the practice of
thinning grapes at the green stage to control yield): cordon, bush and palmet-pruning;
and Guyot pruning for some white varietals.
Training : To 1,50 m to enhance photosynthesis.
Farming of the land : Nature friendly and sustainable
farming, natural grass.
Yields : Small and in some cases below 25 hectoliters
per hectare (10 hectoliters per acre) for our premiums cuvées.
Harvests : Exceptionally long due to the large range
of varieties grown. The grapes are picked at full maturity, with the main period running
from the second half of August to the first half of October.
Let us now enter in our winery.