CHATEAU AUZIAS

Château Auzias-Paretlongue – Heritage, Grandeur and the Energy of Cabardès

A Family Saga Still Being Written. At the dawn of the 21st century, Château Auzias-Paretlongue stands as one of the largest privately owned estates in Languedoc: 160 hectares of contiguous vineyards at the heart of the Cabardès appellation, facing the Montagne Noire. Today, Nathalie and Dominique Auzias, together with their four children, carry on the family legacy — restructuring plots, modernizing the cellars, and expanding internationally. Their guiding principle remains unchanged: preserve the heritage, and shape it into a contemporary vision of excellence.

Deep Historical Roots

The estate bears witness to centuries of southern French history:

• Antiquity – traces of a Gallo-Roman villa (from the Gallic Wars era), destroyed in the 5th century.
• Middle Ages – in the 12th century, the Priory of Notre-Dame de Pareti Longi was founded during the Cathar period.
• Modern Era – the current château and cellars were built under the First French Empire by the Castel family.

Through the centuries, continuous family stewardship preserved this exceptional viticultural heritage — now brought to new life in its modern form.

An Exceptional Vineyard at the Gates of Carcassonne

Between Pennautier and Villemoustaussou, just minutes from the UNESCO sites of the Cité de Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi, the estate unfolds across 110 hectares of clay-limestone soils:

• Pebbly slopes (AOP Cabardès) at the foot of the Montagne Noire.
• Small alluvial plains along the Fresquel river (IGP Cité de Carcassonne).

Early on, Paretlongue pioneered the planting of “improving” grape varieties. Today, the vineyard blends Atlantic freshness with Mediterranean generosity: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Carignan, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Marselan, Chardonnay, Muscat à Petits Grains, and Viognier.

High Environmental Value and Conscious Viticulture

Château Auzias holds the HVE Level 3 certification and is committed to responsible farming:

• No chemical fertilizers, glyphosate, or insecticides; only mechanical or manual weeding.
• Drastic reduction of phytosanitary products — three quarters certified organic.
• Cover cropping to prevent erosion and foster soil biodiversity.
• Pruning and mowing aligned with lunar cycles.
• Use of local organic sheep manure as fertilizer.

Clear objective: protect the ecosystem and craft wines that are clean, precise, and sustainable.

Harvesting: Precision and Timing

The diversity of markets and cuvées requires parcel-by-parcel management. As harvest approaches:

• Daily monitoring of berries (sugar, acidity, pH, sanitary condition) at a fixed hour.
• Harvest decisions guided by both data and the winemaker’s instinct, often opting for late picking to maximize phenolic and aromatic maturity.
• Manual harvesting at dawn to preserve freshness; mechanical backup when weather demands.

Proximity to the winery allows grapes to be in tanks within 11 minutes — preserving fruit integrity.

Winemaking: Tradition, Control, and Balanced Extraction

In one of the largest private cellars in Languedoc, winemaking remains traditional but finely controlled:

• Fermentation lasts 15 to 45 days, depending on the cuvée, with precise temperature management.
• Pump-overs and rack-and-return adapted by tasting for ideal balance between fruit and structure.
• Racking after fermentation; natural malolactic conversion before ageing.

Ageing and Bottling

Wines are aged in carefully selected barrels or concrete tanks, with clarification by repeated racking. No fining, minimal filtration before bottling. Bottled on-site with full traceability, multilingual labeling, and recognition of awarded medals.

Our Wines: Two Appellations, Three Ranges, One Style

Appellations: AOP Cabardès & IGP Cité de Carcassonne Philosophy: precise, readable wines that bridge the Atlantic freshness (Cabernets, Merlot) and Mediterranean richness (Syrah, Grenache).

Classic Range – Accessible and Expressive IGP & AOP Wines

• IGP Chardonnay-Viognier – Floral white, peach flesh, crisp lemon finish.
• IGP Montagne Noire – Smooth red, black fruits, hint of sweet spice.
• IGP Brise Marine – Saline white, lively and refreshing.
• IGP Rosé d’Été – Pale rosé, fresh red berries, crisp mouthfeel.
• IGP Les Alizés – Bright white, floral and citrus notes.
• IGP CC RGE – Pinot Noir – Delicate red, cherry, fine spice.

Terroir Range – Distinct Parcels, AOP Cabardès Character

• AOP Instinct Terrien – Depth, texture, and clay-limestone complexity.
• AOP Instinct Marin – Freshness, tension, and a subtle minty-saline touch.
• AOP Mademoiselle – Silky, charming, and indulgent Cabardès.

Prestige Range – Ambitious Selections and Ageing

• AOP Gloria Mundi – The estate’s signature wine: complexity, length, and exceptional ageing potential.

A Bridge Between Languedoc and China: Château Reifeng-Auzias

Near Penglai, Château Reifeng-Auzias embodies a Franco-Chinese joint venture — combining French savoir-faire with the maritime climate of the Yellow Sea. Clay-limestone soils mixed with flint and fine gravel offer remarkable potential. Since its first vintage in 2007, this project has proven that with the right latitude and viticultural rigor, great wines can flourish far from tradition.

Why Choose Château Auzias-Paretlongue?

• 160 hectares of contiguous vines in Cabardès — a true rarity.
• Family vision paired with controlled industrial capacity — consistency and quality.
• HVE3-certified viticulture, parcel-based management, estate bottling.
• Balanced style bridging Atlantic freshness and Mediterranean warmth.

Would you choose the depth of a “Gloria Mundi” Cabardès for cellaring, or the immediate freshness of a Chardonnay-Viognier IGP for a perfect aperitif moment?