Terres des Templiers perpetuates the know-how of Catalan viticulture which makes the wines of Collioure , Banyuls and Banyuls Grand Cru famous and reserves its production to individuals through a whole network of ambassadors who provide free tasting at home throughout France.
Land of History
The Templar Lands bear the legacy of a wine-growing region shaped by 26 centuries of history. Before Collioure and Banyuls were founded , Phoenician ships first landed on the Côte Vermeille . Guided by the Canigou, this colossal beacon, they dropped anchor at the foot of these schist hills so well-suited to viticulture. Facing east, overlooking the sea, and protected to the south by the Albères Massif, the vineyards' hospitality in these hilly areas was established as early as Antiquity. Greeks and Romans took over from the first travelers. Then, with the arrival of the medieval period, the Order of the Templars inherited the administration of the vineyards. They likely established its current infrastructure by bringing back the model of terraced vineyards from the East. Called feixas in Catalan, these plots, where Grenache vines predominate, are crisscrossed by a rainwater drainage system known as peu de gall, a name derived from the shape of a rooster's foot. Running between the goblet-trained vines, this network of converging channels ensures the flow of rainwater from the steep slopes to the sea. Also pioneers in the discovery of mutage , the process of producing naturally sweet wines, the Knights Templar refined the outdoor aging techniques so characteristic of Catalan cellars. This, then, is the historical and heritage context upon which Terres des Templiers continues to thrive today.
Solidarity lands
Terres des Templiers was born from winegrowers' solidarity. In 1950, the merger of eight wineries from the Collioure and Banyuls appellations marked its inaugural act. A few years later, a winery befitting the size of the group was built. Since then, more than a thousand large casks and barrels have contributed to the high-quality aging of Banyuls fortified wines . Confirming the cooperative dynamic, 1991 saw the inauguration of a cellar capable of aging more than two million bottles. The eco-responsible practices that are so important today took root at that time. They culminated in the Agri-Confiance certification obtained in 2002. For in the Collioure and Banyuls appellations , the close link between centuries-old history and exceptional terroir compels every wine-growing enterprise to preserve and perpetuate its cultural and environmental heritage. Driven by this commitment, Terres des Templiers acquired the Mas Ventous winery in 2011. Built on a hillside overlooking the Côte Vermeille, it is perfectly integrated into the natural landscape and entirely self-sufficient. It demonstrates that in Catalonia , viticulture is inseparable from ecological responsibility.
Vineyard lands
Awareness and respect for the land, when combined with the collective work of the winemakers, ultimately result in high-quality wines. At Terres des Templiers , this quality is coupled with a heritage expertise, emblematic of Catalan identity . When 753 cooperative winemakers work together to cultivate 696 hectares of vineyards on schist slopes, collective generosity is inevitable. It is expressed in the vibrant minerality that characterizes the red , white, and rosé wines of Collioure . It perpetuates ancestral know-how in the large cellars of casks and barrels where the naturally sweet wines of Banyuls mature, sometimes for many years . Woven around the dominant Grenache grapes, the wines of Collioure are like aromatic embroideries, subtly nuanced with freshness by Mourvèdre, Carignan, Syrah, Roussanne, Marsanne, or Vermentino. A sumptuous expression of Grenache and sun-drenched harvests, the wines of Banyuls and Banyuls Grand Cru are presented as a treasure bequeathed by history. These precious juices mature in spectacular cellars of large casks and barrels, their woods enhanced with a vibrant red hue, perpetuating the heraldry of the ancient Knights Templar.