The Estate
18 hectares of vines and natural landscapes on a terrace of the Upper Aude Valley, surrounded by woodland and protected by the European “Natura 2000” reserve.
- EDEN
- TRES PECHS
- PLAINE DE ROQUEFORT
- LA POINTE ECURIE
- LE JARDIN
- LA POINTE JARDIN
- BLAISE
- VINCENT
- TOURNIÉ
- LE PECH
- LASSAIGNE
Our story
Altitude. Light. Purity.
Perched at 350 meters above sea level on the first foothills of the Pyrenees, Château Rives-Blanques is unlike any other estate. It is a place apart: a high-altitude vineyard devoted to the great whites of Languedoc, in an environment as wild as it is inspiring.
It all began in the 1970s, when the first Chenin and Chardonnay vines were planted here in Cépie, long before the Limoux Blanc AOP was recognized. A bold intuition at the time: that a great white wine from the South could rival those from the North—if the vineyard was well sited, well tended, and the grapes handled with care. Since then, the estate has continued to refine this vision, vintage after vintage.
In 2001, it came into the hands of the Panman family, who instilled a demanding culture focused on precision, authenticity, and purity. Then, in 2022, Rives-Blanques joined Artisans Partisans, finding in this alliance the natural continuation of its project: an owner-run estate, independent, free in its choices, faithful to its terroir.
Today, Rives-Blanques is a singular vineyard: rare in its specialization, coherent in its approach, and deeply committed in the way it makes wine.
Our terroir
A terroir at the crossroads
At the far western edge of Languedoc, Limoux is a climatic crossroads.
Here, Atlantic winds meet Mediterranean light. Morning coolness pairs with daytime warmth, creating ideal temperature swings for perfectly balanced white wines.
Rives-Blanques lies on the Mediterranean terroir of the appellation: deep clay-limestone soils, ideally oriented slopes, and above all a protected natural microclimate, at the heart of a Natura 2000 classified area.
The estate spans 18 contiguous hectares in a preserved green setting, where forests, hedgerows, birds, and deer live to the rhythm of the vine. This surrounding nature is not scenery: it is an integral part of the estate’s functional biodiversity.
This context allows our grapes to ripen slowly and evenly, without excess. And it is this slow tempo—the breathing of the place—that gives our white wines tension, freshness, and depth.
The Cellar
A tightrope-walker’s cellar
At Rives-Blanques, each wine is crafted as a unique work. We produce small quantities with unwavering precision, from the grape to the bottle.
Hand harvesting, rigorous sorting, gentle pressing. Nothing is rushed. The grapes must express what they are, without forcing. The juices are then naturally settled for 24 hours, before alcoholic fermentation begins directly in barrels: demi-muids for Chardonnay, 225-liter barrels for Chenin and Mauzac.
Malolactic fermentation is carried out entirely in wood, to bring texture and roundness without heaviness. The wine then rests for 9 months on lees, with regular bâtonnage during the first two months, followed by ageing without fining, without artifice.
What we seek: finesse, balance, and vibrancy. Whites with depth, but also light. Whites from the South, with a northern soul.
Our commitments
A living viticulture, on a human scale
Rives-Blanques is certified organic, but our approach goes far beyond the label. What we cultivate is not just grapes: it is an ecosystem.
- Pruning adapted to each grape variety: gobelet for Mauzac, Royat for Chenin, Guyot for Chardonnay.
- Controlled vine density, low yields, no irrigation.
- Fauna and flora coexist with the vine, in a spirit of natural symbiosis.
- Winemaking is as restrained as possible: no SO₂ is added during vinification. Only a minimal dose is added at bottling, to ensure stability and authenticity.
Mauzac conservatory: Preserve to pass on
If one project embodies the spirit of Rives-Blanques, it is the Mauzac conservatory. Mauzac is an emblematic grape variety of Limoux, grown here for more than seven centuries. Little-known and sometimes forgotten, it is nevertheless a cornerstone of Occitan wine heritage.
In 2020, we decided to give it a home: a dedicated parcel replanted with 4,000 young vines from 10 historic clones, selected with the Chamber of Agriculture for their genetic diversity.
This conservatory addresses several challenges:
- Preserving a living heritage
- Strengthening vineyard resilience in the face of climate change
- Exploring new expressions of Mauzac, in still and sparkling wines
Rives-Blanques is now the largest reservoir of Mauzac genetic diversity in Languedoc. And far from being kept in silence, we bottle this diversity.
Contact
Do you have questions? Feel free to fill out the form below:
Château Rives-Blanques
11300 Cépie
Tel: +33 (0)4 68 31 43 20