On a hot summer morning, we set off towards the small village of Alaigne in search of Domaine Girard. Taking the smaller roads through the Malepère countryside, the journey became increasingly rural, passing vineyards, sunflower fields and the occasional glimpse of local wildlife. After a few wrong turns, we finally arrived at Philippe Girard’s cellar, with some relief and a spectacular view across the Lauragais plain towards the Pyrenees and Carcassonne.

The journey feels appropriate for a domaine that remains quietly tucked away from the better-known wine routes of the region. Here, Philippe Girard continues a family tradition that stretches back four generations to his great-grandfather Jean, who planted the first family vines in 1928.

 

His grandfather Eugène continued farming through the 1940s, when the family worked around seven hectares alongside cattle and wheat, growing a collection of traditional varieties including Carignan, Aramon, Jurançon and Cinsault. It was Philippe’s father André who began to reshape the estate in the 1980s, expanding the vineyard and planting varieties including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Malbec. At the time, the family sold their wines in bulk. Philippe grew up among the vines and eventually followed the same path, studying viticulture and winemaking in Libourne before spending a year working in Nuits-Saint-Georges. The experience gave him a particular appreciation for Pinot Noir, a variety that had already been planted by his father. In the early 2000s, Philippe returned home and took up the family domaine. The first wine bottled under the Domaine Girard name was the 2000 vintage. 

 

Today, Philippe farms around 25 hectares, mostly around Alaigne at 350 metres, with further vineyards in Roquetaillade in the Haute Vallée de l’Aude at 450 metres. The cooler, higher-altitude site is particularly well suited to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, bringing greater tension and freshness, while Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Syrah thrive around Alaigne. The Malepère and Limoux regions benefit from a distinctive cool microclimate, shaped by Atlantic influences and varied clay, limestone, marl and gravel soils. Philippe farms sustainably under HVE 3 certification, with careful vineyard work and a restrained approach in the cellar. Traditional fermentations are followed by 8 to 10 months of maturation in tank or barrel.

 

The wines are honest, beautifully balanced and expressive of their place. There is no pretence here, just a family vineyard, a remarkable landscape and Philippe’s quiet determination to make the best wines he can from it. We are thrilled to represent Domaine Girard in Australia. And having finally found the domaine on that hot summer morning, we can confirm that the journey is worth it.

 

https://www.domaine-girard.eu/

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