Behind Domaine du Pountet is the husband and wife team of Amanda and Guillaume, whose family run vineyard is situated in the South West of France, nestled in between the river Garonne and the Pyrenees. They are in the heart of the famous Armagnac region. Yes, they do make an exquisite Armagnac. In fact, in the spirit of biodiversity and cross pollination, they also have a few beehives which yield the most extraordinary honey
The vineyard is actually situated on the site of the ancient Roman city of Eluza and it is here that the Combes family create wines that are a reflection of their personality and their values.
I drove quite a few hours from Toulouse to visit Amanda and Guillaume but the visit was as rewarding as it was inspiring. Their cellar has the appearance of a Roman building on the outside but hides a modernity within. They wanted it to respect nature whilst also promoting renewable energy.
So, it has been deliberately eco-designed, low on energy consumption, and insulated with natural materials to prevent heat loss thus avoiding the use of thermoregulators for their vats. These small details remind you that family winemakers such as Domaine du Pountet do it for the love of it and which I will never take for granted.
