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Summer sunshine
May and June are so beautiful in the Languedoc - it's the season for wild flowers and everything looks lush and full, ahead of the more intense heat of later in the summer. The vines are in full bloom and the vineyards are green and vibrant and alive with the sounds of nature. Our Albarino vineyards are situated at about 305m altitude so they reach ripeness about 3 weeks later than our Cazal Viel estate in St Chinian - the average temperature at Auzines is 3-4C cooler on aver
laurawinespecialis
2 days ago2 min read


Summer brings rosé season!
It's rosé season again! Although more people are choosing to drink rosé all year round, it's definitely the wine of choice for many during the summer months. We all see opportunistic stacks of rosé wines in wine stores and the empty shelves speak volumes about our urge to drink pink on the longer days, especially when the sun shines. It's easy to see why - a dry rosé is a great pairing for many styles of food, especially summery dishes like salads, charcuterie, grilled veget
laurawinespecialis
May 52 min read


A trip to Germany
We were thrilled to take part in the "Winzer" Winemaker series at Jacques Wein, hosted by the inimitable Remigius Szlachetka who is the owner of 2 fantastic stores in Osnabrück and Bielefeld-Babenhausen. Jacques Wein now have 340 shops in Germany but those of Remi must be among the best, as well as being unique. The iconic building at Babenhausen, dating from 1821, was an old agricultural barn and, established in 1980, was one of the original stores to open in Germany. Remi w
laurawinespecialis
Apr 272 min read


Spring in the vineyard
Bud break at Château Cazal Viel heralds the real beginning of spring in our vineyards. It's an exciting time for the viticultural team, as they start work on the new vintage and the lifecycle of our vines begins again. It comes about 2 weeks later at Château Auzines than Cazal Viel, thanks to the higher altitude and cool breezes, which gives our viticultural team time to catch their breath! Our focus now is on maximising soil health and vitality. We follow regenerative agri
laurawinespecialis
Mar 262 min read


Wine Paris 2026 - Recap
The opening of Wine Paris 2026 We are back in the Languedoc after a successful, busy and exciting Wine Paris fair. The salon has firmly established itself as one of the most important global meeting points for the wine trade, bringing together producers, buyers, distributors, and decision-makers from every key market in one place. For the team at Laurent Miquel, Wine Paris is the first important event of the year, allowing us to meet with our customers from around the world,
laurawinespecialis
Feb 233 min read


Château Cazal Viel 1996 - 30 years on
Laurent Miquel returned to his family domaine at Cazal Viel in 1996 to work with his father Henri and shortly afterwards became the chief winemaker, the 8th generation of his family to produce wines at the estate. 2026 marks 30 years of Laurent at the helm and with Neasa (his Irish wife) at his side, they continue in their mission to create elegant, fresh wines from their unique Languedoc estates. We harness the expertise of our ancestors by honouring the traditions of the pa
laurawinespecialis
Jan 152 min read


Preparing for the festive season!
Winter is settling into the Languedoc - life in the vineyard enters a quieter, more reflective rhythm, but that doesn’t mean things slow down. With the vines now lying dormant, this is the moment when the team turns its attention to essential winter work. It’s a peaceful time of year in the vineyard — crisp air, still mornings, and views over the bare rows of vines. Everything we do now sets the foundation for the growth to come in spring. Preparing for the Festive Season Ou
laurawinespecialis
Nov 25, 20252 min read


Bringing people together through wine
Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting a series of Laurent Miquel food and wine pairing dinners in the Netherlands — evenings that reminded us why we do what we do. These dinners are always about much more than tasting wine. It's much more about bringing people together — around the table, over good food, and through conversation. Each event is an opportunity to share stories, exchange ideas, and rediscover the simple joy of connecting with others. Guests explored the wi
laurawinespecialis
Nov 13, 20252 min read


Why Regenerative Agriculture Means Better Wine for You
We know that sustainability matters. But when it comes to the everyday choices we make — whether that’s the wine we drink or the food we buy — convenience and price often come first. and sustainability can feel a little abstract. So why should it matter to you as somebody who enjoys a glass of wine? At Laurent Miquel, our focus on regenerative agriculture and sustainable practices isn’t just about caring for the land — it’s about producing better wine, naturally, that you can
laurawinespecialis
Oct 31, 20252 min read


Syrah - a wine for the ages
For eight generations, the Miquel family has been working the land around Château Cazal Viel in the Languedoc region of the south of France. Our approach is based on the Japanese philosophy of "Kaizen", blending tradition and innovation to constantly improve on what went before, to create wines that express both the character of our land and the story of our family. It was Laurent’s father, Henri Miquel — affectionately known in our village as Monsieur Syrah — who first unde
laurawinespecialis
Oct 21, 20253 min read


A busy autumn in the vineyards
Post-Harvest in the Vineyard and Cellar Now that harvest is behind us, things may seem a little quieter—but there’s still plenty happening both in the vineyard and in the cellar. These weeks between harvest and winter are some of the most important of the year, even if the pace feels a little bit slower. In the Vineyard Once the last grapes are picked, the vines begin transitioning into dormancy. The energy that once went into fruit production starts retreating back into the
laurawinespecialis
Oct 17, 20252 min read


The rosé renaissance
In our last post we told you about Domaine St Blaise - a 50/50 venture between Laurent Miquel and the farmer of the vineyard, which has...
laurawinespecialis
Oct 10, 20251 min read
The Story of Domaine St Blaise
Nestled on the banks of the river Orb, just two kilometers from our Château Cazal Viel estate, lies Domaine St Blaise. The vineyard was...
laurawinespecialis
Sep 26, 20252 min read


Interim Harvest Report 2025
Laurent at Cazal Viel September 2025 Message from Laurent Miquel - "This year’s harvest has reminded us of both the resilience required...
laurawinespecialis
Sep 8, 20251 min read
Harvest update 2025
Château Cazal Viel & Château Auzines Harvest is progressing smoothly this year so far. At Château Cazal Viel , we began picking Sauvignon...
laurawinespecialis
Aug 26, 20252 min read
Harvesting continues...
Harvest 2025: Busy nights at Château Auzines and Château Cazal Viel Harvest season is in full swing. At Domaines Les Auzines, the...
laurawinespecialis
Aug 26, 20251 min read
Vintage 2025 is underway!
Harvest Season Begins at Château Cazal Viel The harvest season has officially begun in St-Chinian at Château Cazal Viel — usually two to...
laurawinespecialis
Aug 26, 20252 min read


Harvest will start soon!
We are ready for vintage 2025 - in fact, we expect harvesting to start early next week in our Cazal Viel vineyards at Cessenon-sur-Orb....
laurawinespecialis
Aug 14, 20252 min read
Facing Fire and the Future: A Summer of Resilience in the Languedoc Vineyards
As summer stretches on in the Languedoc, what should be a time of hopeful anticipation as harvest nears has instead brought heartbreak...
laurawinespecialis
Aug 7, 20252 min read


🥂 Laurent Miquel Shines with Five Silver Medals at 50 Great White Wines 2025
We’re proud and excited to share that five white wines by Laurent Miquel earned Silver medals (90–94.9 points)—at the recent 50 Great...
laurawinespecialis
Jul 7, 20252 min read
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