Our Vineyards:
reflecting an amalgamation of earth and sea

Each native region is unique and the wine it produces reveals the qualities of the type of soil, the geographical, geological and climatic area, the vines which fair well, not forgetting the wine growers’ expertise.

Soil:
The native soil of the Côtes de Duras still bears the traces of the geological upheaval, which has been shaping it for the past one hundred million years.  Most soils originate from the sea or the river.
Marly or molassic soil and limestone or clay-limestone hillsides predominate.
The higher substrata, rich in molasse, locally known as ‘boulbènes’, are ideal for growing white vine.
Red vine is generally produced in soil constituted from a blend of compact clay and chalk. 

Climate:
One hundred kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean, the Duras vineyards lie within the sphere of influence of an oceanic climate.  It benefits from generally hotter, dryer weather than its Bordeaux neighbour, enabling wines to mature in the best of conditions.

Vineyards’ vines:

Red wines are made with four different types of grape:
Merlot 52 %, Cabernet Sauvignon 27 %, Cabernet Franc 20 %, and Malbec 1 %.  The Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Cabernet-Franc grapes impart a deep red colour, body and fullness to the wine.

Côtes de Duras dry whites are made with seven different types of grape:
Sauvignon (67%), Sémillon (27%), Muscadelle (4%), Mauzac, Ondenc, Chenin and Ugni blanc.  The famous Sauvignon, Sémillon and Muscadelle grapes gives these wines their character or ‘typicité’.

The sweet whites are also made with seven types of grape:
Sémillon, Sauvignon, Muscadelle, Mauzac, Ondenc, Chenin and Ugni blanc.  With Sémillon grapes predominating, these more syrupy wines give off a hint of crystallised fruit.