Protected Designation of Origin design prestigious wines, they are corresponding to a geographical aera which is strictly delimited according to wine-growing abilities of land’s.
This label is governed by strict and rigorous specification which impose: production constraints to guarantee the consumer optimal quality of wines but also typical product.
Vignobles Fabien Castaing’s propose 3 PDO such a s: PDO Bergerac in red/rosé/white, PDO Côte de Bergerac and PDO Monbazillac.
Protected Geographical indication wines (PGI) have more flexible specifications than Protected Designation of Origin. They are only delimits by a geographical aera of grape production. Unlike PDO; all processing of wine production phases do not have to take place within the protected aera itself.
Vignobles Fabien Castaing’s propose 3 PGI such as : PGI Côtes de Gascogne, PGI Atlantique, PGI Comté Tolosan.
Vignobles Fabien Castaing’s have been members of the Syndicate of French Independent Winegrower since the end of the 80’s.
As a pledge of his seriousness, the winegrower must meet certain requirement and criteria, first and foremost to cultivate, ageing and market his wine himself. He must also be :
The HEV certification system comes from to the “Grenelle of the environment”, it’s a voluntary process that commits the winegrower to a more environmentally transition friendly practices. Vignobles Fabien Castaing’s are among the first winegrowers to have been certified, they are since June’s 2013 at the highest level N°3. This implies obligations of results measured by environmental performance indicators.
This approach is based on 4 indicators : the preservation of biodiversity which allows us, among other things, to enjoy rare wild orchids every spring, the phytosanitary strategy with implementation of alternative methods to chemical control, fertilization management and a better management of water resources.
Converting to Organic Agriculture correspond to transition phase towards certification in “Organic Agriculture”. For viticulture, this phase lasts 36 month or 3 years. From the beginning of this phase, the producer must apply practices that are strictly in accordance with organic agriculture regulations. Also, it’s possible for him to adapt production tools and initiate changes.
In lifecycles of plants and organisms that live on and in the soil.
The winegrower must sign up with an approved certifier body. At the end of the 3 years, and if the specifications have been conscientiously respected, the harvest occurring after the conversion date may contain the words “Product of Organic Farming”. Since 2019, Vignobles Fabien Castaing’s have been in process of converting to Organic farming for the entire 54ha of the vineyard Domaine de Moulin-Pouzy.
Certification for Organic Agriculture comes at the end of the conversion phase. Château Les Mailleries from Vignobles Fabien Castaing’s has been certified since the early 2000’s.
This official certification indicates that viticulture preserves the biological balance of nature as much as possible, also, respects biodiversity and the preservation of natural resources. Thus, the winegrower uses non-polluting processes with natural origin product (insecticide, plant products, copper, sulfur…) and he is submitting to regular checks by approved certifications bodies.
The brand named ‘Product in Nouvelle Aquitaine’ is Ariana’s (Aria Nouvelle-Aquitaine) response to consumers looking for local and responsible products from both a social and environmental point of view. Vignobles Fabien Castaing’s are happy to be among the first winegrowers member. It’s means that we have been able to meet the demanding selection criteria such as: Regionality, solidarity, citizenship, progress approached with a CRS plan.
Through the ‘Product in Nouvelle Aquitaine’ brand, we are marking our regional roots a little more. In line with the brand’s charter, we defend a virtuous local economy to better meet our pace of life and consumers expectations which are looking for healthy, safe and sustainable food.
Vignobles Fabien Castaing’s benefit from the Bergerac climate, it brings together all climatic conditions that make a great vineyard!
Close to the Atlantic ocean, the Dordogne valley has a temperate oceanic climate. Winters are mild and rainy while summers are cool and relatively humid. The mildness of these temperatures favors an early start of the vines.
Sunny late seasons allow for good maturation or over-maturation of the grapes. Our Monbazillac’s vineyards particularly benefit from the cool morning mists brought by the Dordogne river. Theses mists are also necessary for stage in exceptional sweet wines making, because they promote the development of the noble rot “Botrytis”.
Each wine is unique, just like the terroir which it comes. Vignobles Fabien Castaing’s extend over clay-limestone soils on hard limestone, stony clay-limestone, there’re also flints and at the bottom of the slope we can find boulbènes.
The clay-limestone soils predominate, they are balanced and offer a low-fat soil mixed with more or less hard white stone. The hard stony limestone allows to obtain round, voluminous, fleshy, fine and elegant wines with good fruits flavors. The presence of flint brings more tension and minerality to the wines.
Terrain and soils influence the organoleptic characteristics of the wine, its taste and aromatic aspect. There is a real link between the soil dans the grape varieties.
Merlot : early-maturing grape variety to be able to express all this potential to produce supple, colorful wines with a beautiful aromatic richness and with little acidity.
Cabernet Sauvignon : grape variety with late maturity, it gives to the wines a structure with tannins as vigorous as they are colorful.
Malbec : this grape variety offers wines with great potential, tannic and colorful. They are fragrant and suitable for aging.
Merlot : early-maturing grape variety to be able to express all this potential to produce supple, colorful wines with a beautiful aromatic richness and with little acidity.
Cabernet Sauvignon : grape variety with late maturity, it gives to the wines a structure with tannins as vigorous as they are colorful.
Malbec : this grape variety offers wines with great potential, tannic and colorful. They are fragrant and suitable for aging.
Sémillon : mainly used for medium-sweet or sweet white wines, it rarely used for dry ones. It brings roundness and fat to make aromatic and elegant wines. It’s the grape variety that have the best supports noble rot ‘Botrytis’ used in the development of sweet wines making such as Monbazillac.
Sauvignon blanc : this grape variety is generally used for dry wines production. It brings acidity, minerality and aromatic freshness t wines.
Sauvignon gris : is characterized by small caliber grapes and bunches small sizes. It’s grape variety gives very aromatic, balanced, elegant and fine wines.
Muscadelle : used in blends for dry and medium-sweet wines, it’s a fragile grape variety with interesting aromas.
Ugni-blanc : late-maturing grape variety, it’s interesting for acidity that it brings during blending which give more freshness.
Sémillon : mainly used for medium-sweet or sweet white wines, it rarely used for dry ones. It brings roundness and fat to make aromatic and elegant wines. It’s the grape variety that have the best supports noble rot ‘Botrytis’ used in the development of sweet wines making such as Monbazillac.
Sauvignon blanc : this grape variety is generally used for dry wines production. It brings acidity, minerality and aromatic freshness t wines.
Sauvignon gris : is characterized by small caliber grapes and bunches small sizes. It’s grape variety gives very aromatic, balanced, elegant and fine wines.
Muscadelle : used in blends for dry and medium-sweet wines, it’s a fragile grape variety with interesting aromas.
Ugni-blanc : late-maturing grape variety, it’s interesting for acidity that it brings during blending which give more freshness.