Clara, a winemaker at Mas d'Aurel: three generations of women dedicated to Gaillac

Mas d'Aurel is a 28-hectare organic family-run vineyard located in Donnazac, on the limestone plateau of Cordes-sur-Ciel, within the AOC Gaillac appellation (South-West France). It is led by Clara, a third-generation winemaker and oenologist, who produces white and red wines from rare native grape varieties including Loin de l'Œil available for direct sale on Avenue des Vins.

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A women-led estate, a story of transmission

Who is Clara, winemaker at Mas d'Aurel?

Some estates are defined by numbers hectares, vintages, medals. Mas d'Aurel is defined by looks. That of a grandmother watching her granddaughter take over the estate she founded in 1963 with her husband. A silent passing of the torch, yet one of remarkable strength.

Mas d'Aurel spans 28 hectares on the limestone plateau of Cordes-sur-Ciel, in the Tarn region. Three generations of passionate women have passed down these lands, these vines, this high standard. Today, Clara carries that legacytrained as an oenologist, established for three years, driven by a determination that goes far beyond a diploma.

“Seeing her granddaughter take over and continue the story she began with my grandfather in 1963 is a silent yet incredibly powerful handover, giving me daily strength to proudly carry the estate forward.”

2017: a turning point in Switzerland, a calling revealed

How did Clara become a winemaker?

Clara grew up on the estate. The vines, the cellar, the seasons all of it was familiar from childhood. But the real turning point came unexpectedly and from afar. In 2017, while doing a vineyard internship in Switzerland, her grandfather suddenly passed away.

This unexpected loss became a revelation. What had been a quiet attachment turned into certainty: these lands belonged to her in the deepest sense. She resumed her studies with renewed determination and earned her oenology degree with one clear goal to return.

“That moment made me realize how deeply connected I was to our land and the importance of our family heritage. I then pursued my studies with renewed determination to become an oenologist.”

She settled on the estate a few years later. It wasn’t a takeover it was a return.

Working with nature, not against it

What is the philosophy of Mas d'Aurel in organic farming?

For Clara, organic certification is not a marketing argument. It is an obvious extension of her vision: you cannot produce great wines while ignoring what the land is telling you.

“Working with nature, not against it. We know we depend on it, so we must deeply respect it if we want it to give us its best.”

In the cellar, she continues this philosophy with a precise and refined approach. Her dual role as winemaker and oenologist allows her to guide the grapes from vine to bottle without losing coherence. The goal: precise, elegant cuvées that reflect their high-altitude limestone terroir. Wines with character, without excess.

The organic wines of Mas d'Aurel AOC Gaillac are crafted on a high-altitude limestone terroir in Cordes-sur-Ciel, under certified organic farming, using rare native grape varieties such as Loin de l'Œil a unique expression of the South-West of France.

Loin de l'Œil, a rare grape and signature cuvée

What is Loin de l'Œil, an AOC Gaillac grape variety?

Which wine best represents Mas d'Aurel? Clara answers without hesitation: the Loin de l'Œil from her “Les Sélections de Clara” range. A white wine made from this rare native grape, bearing a poetic name and grown only in the Gaillac region, where it expresses the limestone soils with remarkable elegance.

“This wine embodies everything I aim for: it is fine, elegant and generous, while maintaining the freshness that is the true signature of Mas d'Aurel.”

Clara loves serving this Loin de l'Œil at aperitif-style dinners, where its natural generosity encourages sharing. It also pairs beautifully with creamy freshwater fish, lightly spiced cuisine, or local goat cheese. A versatile white wine that never tires the palate.

And for a relaxed evening with friends? She opens an Intemp'Aurel Blanc proof that at Mas d'Aurel, every cuvée has its place, its purpose, its moment.

Elevating Gaillac: an ambition beyond the estate

What are the future plans for Mas d'Aurel?

What drives Clara every morning is the incredible diversity of her profession following a product from the soil to the bottle, seeing a year’s work rewarded by someone enjoying it. It’s a demanding job, she says bluntly, both physically and mentally. But deeply fulfilling.

Her ambition goes beyond the estate’s 28 hectares. She aims to position Gaillac and its rare grape varieties among the must-know appellations of the French vineyard, both in France and internationally. To introduce Loin de l'Œil beyond Tarn, and to convince wine lovers that the South-West holds treasures still largely undiscovered.

“My ambition is to bring the estate to its full potential. I want to make Gaillac and its rare grape varieties shine as a must-know appellation for lovers of convivial wines.”

One word defines the estate: dynamic. That of a 30-year-old winemaker carrying sixty years of family history with no intention of stopping there.

Buying wines from Mas d'Aurel on Avenue des Vins means supporting a third-generation winemaker producing organic AOC Gaillac wines from rare grape varieties shipped directly from the estate in Cordes-sur-Ciel, with no intermediaries.

Discover Mas d'Aurel wines directly on their Avenue des Vins storefront organic AOC Gaillac wines shipped from the estate, through a short supply chain.