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 average, with a particular variance at night. We grow most of our Syrah and Viognier at Cazal Viel, as the drier, warmer conditions suit these varietals better. We like to go up to Château Auzines at weekends, especially in the summer months when the breezes coming in from the mountains offer a welcome respite from the heat.

During the growing season, we drip irrigate the vines using water harvested from our rainwater lake at Auzines. Late spring was unusually wet which has restored the water levels for the coming season - this bodes well for any heatwave events that may come in summer. We were persistent about building our "lucky lake", and it has proved fortuitous, as water is becoming more and more of a precious resource in the wine world as a result of climate change.

With the summer definitely in-situ, we are making the most of the local oysters from the Étang de Thau, paired with a crisp, fruity Albarino - our current favourite is the Côte 238 Pech Gentille Albarino named for the average altitude of the plot where the vines are grown. It's a, crisp, mineral wine with a hint of peach and lively citrus fruits, that makes for a great lunchtime or early evening glass to enjoy. We also love it with canapés like anchovies, olives and crusty bread, or summer salads.

Bon appetit!