The Rieussec estate encompasses more than 500 years of wine-growing history

Marie-Hélène Deltort a repris le flambeau de la viticulture DR

The building and gardens protected as historical monuments – Nathalie Pioch

Le pin pignon de 350 ans recevra le label “arbre remarquable” – Nathalie Pioch

Les 15 hectares de vignes entourent la bâtisse du XVIIe siècle – Nathalie Pioch

It is quite rare, but the Rieussec estate has belonged to the same family for over five hundred years. A pride that Marie-Hélène Delort cultivates while respecting the heritage of her ancestors.

1463: this is the first mention in a compoix (equivalent to the tax “role”) of the vineyard in Vallon de Rieussec, and of the family, still the owner of the estate. Marie-Hélène Deltort is thus the heir to over five hundred years of history. Her ancestors were all magistrates or lawyers and through their activities or marriages, they expanded and consolidated their possessions.

Particularly in the 19th century, with wine-growing lands that extended as far as Saint-Jean-d'Aumières and included Montpeyroux, where they owned the Château du Barry. At that time, wine was made in Rieussec in huge wooden tuns. This was the period when they became more involved in the territory, particularly their ancestor Jules-Alfred Raynaud, who chose to be buried on his land. He brought together several possessions, and while redeveloping his vineyard, he had the idea for the Gignac irrigation canal project, still in service, and which serves around twenty communes on the Hérault plain.
 

A restructuring of the vineyard

In 2002, Marie-Hélène Deltort decided to take over the business, thus ensuring the succession of five generations of women. She replanted half of the estate with Mourvèdre and Grenache for the reds, and all the white grape varieties with Chenin, Viognier, and Roussane-Marssane. The wine cellar was restored, stainless steel vats replaced the concrete vats. On the 15 hectares in one piece and the eleven grape varieties, manual work and deep plowing are favored, avoiding weedkillers and using products approved for organic farming. The fermentations are natural, using indigenous yeast, so without any chemical additions. This year, the quality of the harvest convinced her to age all her wines in barrels, in order to upgrade her vintages.

A wine library project

As a result, the wines quickly won numerous awards. The vineyard is classified as AOP Côteaux du Languedoc and Terrasses du Larzac, and benefits from the IGP Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. The vintages "Orangerie", "Gentilhommière" and "Jardin anglais" were noted by the Hérault departmental council for the links between the terroir and the heritage.

Its wines have entered the Departmental Oenothèque, in Pierres-Vives, whose objective is to evaluate the potential of Hérault wines for laying down. Tasting sheets have been drawn up. With this in mind, Marie-Hélène Deltort also wants to create a wine library on the estate, with old vintages, including the first bottle of the 2004 vintage.

Heritage and international harp festival

The estate also includes the 17th century building (renovated around 1830) and the park, both protected as Historic Monuments in 2008. Marie-Hélène Deltort has redesigned the English and French gardens. A superb stone pine over 350 years old will receive the “remarkable tree” label Sunday, September 22, 2024. The European Heritage Days will be an opportunity to admire and visit the gardens, with a wine tasting.

As part of the Occitanie International Harp Festival, located on the estate, an exhibition of Carmac harps will be held (09/21). The last concert of the festival (09/22) will take place in the reception hall.
Throughout the year, cultural events are organized in partnership with the Cie.Maritime – Montpellier theater school, the Théâtre populaire de la Vallée de l'Hérault or the Harp Festival. The orangery or landscaped gardens are particularly appreciated for professional or family events.

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