Domaine Arretxea

Some winegrowers seem to have sprung from their own vineyards, and the Riouspeyrous family certainly gives that impression. They fit seamlessly into the rugged, impressive mountain landscape of the AOP Irouléguy. In this special place, Thérèse and Michel – now assisted by sons Teo and Iban – started the Domaine Arretxea in the late 1980s on the southern flank of the Pyrénées Occidentales, in the French Basque Country. The grape cultivation on the estate was organic from the start and has been biodynamic since 1998.

With a total of 240 hectares of vineyards, Irouléguy is one of the smallest wine regions in the French mountain region. Given the steep slopes and the extensive, sometimes dangerous manual work in the terraced vineyards, this is perhaps not such a surprise. Of those 240 hectares, the Riouspeyrous family now owns 12. Of those, 4.5 hectares are planted with the white grape varieties gros manseng, petit manseng and petit courbu. The remaining 7.5 hectares are planted with tannat, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon, for red and rosé. Domaine Arretxea makes fantastic blends* from them, in which the grape varieties make that magical sum of 1 + 1 = 3.

The location of the domain is also special in terms of climate. The mountain tops protect the vines from the cold north wind, the southern location guarantees solar heat, the nearby ocean provides sufficient humidity and the warm south wind in late summer contributes to a healthy, dry vineyard. The soil consists of schist and the grès rouge, red sandstone, characteristic of Irouléguy, veined with minerals such as mica, silicon and clay; a soil on which vines can develop concentrated grapes full of flavour.

It is great that at Domaine Arretxea they experience the harvest as a highlight: the autumn colours of the vineyard and nature, the hair dryer blowing around your ears, the birds starting their annual migration above your head and then with about twenty people through the vineyard to pick, carefully and cautiously, so as not to damage the grapes. There is respect for each other, for nature and for the grapes, from which wine is made in the same spirit: with a gentle hand and with an eye for pure quality.

*The availability of these wines is limited. For this reason, the white wine is only available on request.