A historical player in the appellation, the Cave of Saint Chinian is a notorious showcase of local wine production. Its particularity is to combine wines and creation as evidenced by one of its ranges called theCave Art.
An expressive terroir
Each name of Languedoc reveals its singularities. Their identification leaves an indelible imprint in the memory of the wine lover. Saint-Chinian is one of those. Its particularity can be summed up in a duality: the sharing of the terroir between schists and limestones. All that remains is to superimpose the virtues of the Mediterranean climate on the geological partition so that the fate of a great land of wines can then emerge. It is at the heart of this terroir that the Cave of Saint Chinian. Built in the heart of the village in 1937, it now offers a contemporary and creative showcase on the region's wine-making art. Like all cooperative groups in the south of France, it reveals and cultivates a perfectly restored identity. The page of eras focused on the quantitative exploitation of the vine is definitely turned. While the memory is preserved in the cellar infrastructures, it is now dressed in a destiny served by an image of wine rising with art.
A palette of shades
La Cave of Saint Chinian operates a vineyard of 800 hectares spread over the neighboring municipalities of the wine-growing town. The collective exploitation offers a capital of grape varieties largely representative of the appellation. First of all, the Grenache red, Carignan, Syrah ou Mourvedre, dominant for red wines, associated with Cinsault for rosé wines. Secondly Grenache white, Rousanne, Marsanne contribute to the structure of white wines. Without forgetting for each color the variety of secondary grape varieties which offer a flexible palette of nuances in vinification. This is how production concentrated onPDO Saint Chinian also radiates to IGP Pays d'Oc, Pays d'Hérault et Grage Mountains. The vineyard is managed under the regime of reasoned viticulture. At harvest time, mechanization gives way to manual harvesting for half of the vineyard. Because Saint-Chinian is a highly qualitative appellation, where the quality of the harvest must foreshadow the demanding mastery of vinification and aging carried out in the cellar.
A wine gallery
Showcase of the appellation, the Cave of Saint Chinian enhances the expressive amplitude of the terroir. In the first place with the wines produced in accordance with the requirements of the appellation itself. Particularly noticeable is the range Renaud de Valon, from schist terroirs and combining Syrah, Grenache and old Carignan, the whole enhanced by 12 months of aging in oak barrels. The same nuanced blend of Mourvèdre gives substance to Spirit of Renaud de Valon, similarly aged for one year in barrels. Associating Grenache dominating the virtues of Syrah and Mourvèdre, then forging its powerful complexity over 18 months of aging, comes 8 Secrets. These vintages demonstrating the identity of Saint-Chinian coexist with the singular and particularly distinctive series of cuvées stampedCave Art. The visuals are the result of collaborations with contemporary artists. They distinguish a series of wines with nuances of terroir and aging. This is how the collection of cuvées is presented: Miss.Tic, Christian H, Laura Chaplin, Nadai, Alma, YZ and others. In another evocative vein of the wine terroir itself stands out The Song of Garrigue, drawing its character from red sandstones, or The Capitelles. Without forgetting the white wines and rosé wines of more recent existence in the appellation than the range Raoul Mapoul unites in three colors.