Mas des Tourelles : an empire without borders
In the town of Beaucaire, in the eastern part of the Gard region, Mas des Tourelles is situated at the crossroads of three wine appellations: Vin de Pays d’Oc, Costières de Nîmes, and Côtes du Rhône Gardoises. Between Provence and Languedoc, in a Mediterranean climate where the soils are composed of pebbles and sand, the town of Beaucaire boasts high-quality terroirs with a very ancient reputation dating back to the Gallo-Roman era.
Mas des Tourelles has been owned by the Durand family since 1762. It was Hervé Durand who, in 1974, bought the property from his uncle to turn it into the prestigious vineyard it is today. With 115 hectares of vineyards spread over around twenty different plots, each terroir contributes to the unique character of their wines in terms of grape variety and soil.
Hervé Durand is a man of passions. His passion for archaeology led him to revive the remains of a Roman cellar discovered in the vineyards when he took over the estate. He thus reconstructed this part of the vineyard and the cellar, and applied winemaking techniques left by the ancient Latin occupants. He produces three cuvées using the methods and tastes of ancient wines, aged in “dolia” (large terracotta jars). This gustatory experience transports consumers back in time and makes Mas des Tourelles a must-visit destination.
Another passion: travel. After a youthful journey to South America, Hervé was hooked and dreamed of settling abroad. In 1981, accompanied by his wife, he embarked on a trip to Quebec and discovered, to his surprise, enormous potential for vine planting there. With his agricultural and oenological training and after some agroclimatic research, he acquired a property in the Dunham region and created Vignoble de l’Orpailleur, which today spans over 27 hectares of vineyards and allows for the production of over 250,000 bottles of sparkling, white, red, and ice wine. The winemaker has thus managed to capitalize on his passions, establishing a foothold in Quebec and extending his ambitions beyond French borders.
Hervé Durand remains an integral part of the numerous projects he has created to this day. He is gradually handing over the reins of the business to his son Guilhem, who, as passionate and ambitious as his father, aims to take the vineyard to another level. A true artisan winemaker at heart, he has recently planted new vineyard plots with the idea of producing single-varietal wines. He has selected the best terroirs to plant, among others, Vermentino, Muscat d’Alexandrie, Merlot, and a grape variety from Georgia, Saperavi. Wines that will undoubtedly live up to the beautiful terroirs of the South and the long winemaking expertise passed down by the Durand family.
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