Limoux, Aude, Occitanie

This property is presented by Knight Frank SNC.

Situated within the beautiful Limoux wine region in southern France is this superb 72 ha estate. There are currently 26.5 ha of vineyards, producing approximately 100,000 bottles per year across an award-winning range of eight wines (five white and three red). The estate also includes a principal residence, a secondary residence and a guest cottage, which offer a combined 700 sq m of living space, a separate 100 sq m three bedroom manager's house, together with extensive winemaking facilities and staff accommodation.

The Accommodation:

The elegant principal residence is an ideal family home, situated at one of the highest points of the estate, enjoying wonderful views of the surrounding countryside and the Pyrenees. It comprises an open-plan kitchen/breakfast room, a formal dining room/drawing room, a family sitting room, and a utility room on the ground floor. Upstairs are four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

The secondary residence is perfect for close family and friends, or as an extension to the main house. It comprises an open-plan kitchen/dining room, as well as a sitting room, on the ground floor, with a large bedroom and bathroom upstairs. The guest cottage is situated at the northern end of the building and is well-suited for accommodating guests on either a short-term or long-term basis. There is an open-plan living room with a kitchen/dining area downstairs, and two bedrooms with a bathroom upstairs.

There is a light and airy tasting room with an adjoining office to the rear of the building, which can be accessed directly from the primary residence. There is also a workshop and a garage. All the residential buildings have been fully refurbished and are presented in excellent condition throughout.

The Vineyard:

The certified organic vineyard comprises 26.5 hectares of vines in production, located in a single block surrounding the house and cellars, primarily on southeastern and south-facing slopes, situated between 270 m and 320 m above sea level on predominantly clay/limestone soils. Approximately 75% of the vineyard is planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, reflecting growing conditions that are similar to Burgundy. The remaining vineyards are planted with several aromatic white varieties, including Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Gewurztraminer.

The vineyard has an optimal maturity profile, with nearly 65% of the vines aged between 10 and 30 years, the ideal balance of quality and quantity. Planting density is between 4,444 and 5,556 vines per hectare.

The winemaking cellars are located in the middle of the estate, adjacent to the house, with approximately 1,460 sq m of internal space.

The vat room is equipped with two rows of stainless-steel vats with a total volume of 1,787 hl. There is also a 50hl Francois Freres wood vat and an 18hl foudre, as well as 26 Francois Freres 600l demi-muids.

The barrel ageing cellar and bottle store are located behind the vat room and are semi-underground, facilitating the temperature control.

At the end of the building is a covered harvest reception area, which houses the pneumatic press, and a lower area with several open-top fermenting vats, primarily used for the fermentation of the Pinot Noir.

The estate produces approximately 100,000 bottles per year and distributes them directly to importers and wholesalers in the UK, Europe, the USA, Asia, and Australasia. This highly successful business offers significant potential with several opportunities to increase revenues.

Details of the risks to which this property is exposed are available on the Georisks website: http://www.georisques.gouv.fr

*agency fees paid by the seller

EPC pending: Please get in touch for more information

The property is situated in a highly sought-after location, a short drive south of Carcassonne, one of France's most visited tourist destinations and a UNESCO world heritage site. It is ideally located close to numerous transport links, including the A61 autoroute, Carcassonne and Toulouse international airports and Carcassonne TGV station. The beaches of the Mediterranean are only 45 minutes by car, while the ski resorts of the Pyrenees are just over an hour away and the Alps approximately four hours.

The Limoux wine region is situated close to the Pyrenees in the Languedoc area of southern France. The cool, elevated vineyards provide ideal conditions for producing fresh, vibrant wines. Limoux produces both white and red still wines, under the AOP Limoux and IGP Haute Vallee de l'Aude denominations, and sparkling wines under the Blanquette de Limoux and Cremant de Limoux appellations. Local tradition claims that the world's first sparkling wine was made here in 1531 by the monks of the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire, well before Champagne gained fame.

Today, the region combines centuries-old winemaking heritage with modern techniques, maintaining its reputation for high-quality, characterful wines that reflect the unique terroir of the upper Aude valley.

Property Reference: RSI012678959