Our Vineyard

Ours Origins

“Domaine Galtier” is located 18 km north of Béziers, between Murviel-les-Béziers and Causses-et-Veyran, on a plateau at 120 m altitude.

In 1587, the cadastre attests to the presence of “Mas de Maury” on this plateau, with its dovecote.

This small farm incorporated vineyards, olive trees and fields.
Time has passed, the owners have changed: the estate has retained its authenticity, the diversity of its cultures.
In 1756, acquired by the village doctor, the buildings were rearranged keeping the dovecote, the rounded bread oven, and the cellars.

The landscape, on this limestone soil, is a Mediterranean matorral (the word “mata” in Occitan language is a clump of trees) which gives a striking contrast between the hills of white or bluish stone in the luminous light, the red soil and this vegetation which forms a mosaic of green hues.

​

Our Heritage

The Galtier-Carbonne family acquired the estate in the year 1945. It has been replanted and enlarged by Jean Carbonne's grandfather, who entrusted it to him in 1982.

In 1996, Jean and his wife, Lise, decided to develop marketing under the brand name of "Domaine Galtier".

Lise Carbonne, oenologist, changed the grape varieties in the vineyard, modernised the wine cellar and created a sales cellar, conducting lively summer walks as well throughout the vineyard.

It is composed of 30 Hectares:

• 20 Hectares are in Protected Designation of Origin LANGUEDOC,

• 3 Hectares are in Protected Designation of Origin Saint Chinian,

• 5 hectares in protected geographical indication “Coteaux de Murviel”

• and land at rest

​​

The vines are from 5 to 55 years old.

The vineyard is located on a plateau 120 m above sea level, made up of 3 different soils:

• A calcareous clay soil from the Bartonian period with an agglomerate of limestone

• A secondary floor with splinters of colored marble

• A clay-limestone soil dating from the Miocene composed of sandstones and marly molasses with white sand.

Cognizant for ten years of the importance of biodiversity, we have planted: 120 olive trees to produce olive oil and 2 hectares of cultivated thyme to produce essential oil.

The estate has been a member of the Terra Vitis ® Sustainable Agriculture charter since 2002. Observation, protection of landscapes and the environment, reduction of agricultural inputs and respect for the environment where we live are the keys to this commitment.

For quality products:
The vineyard is managed in short pruning (cordon de Royat) with vine tying on 90% of the plots; on old Carignans, the pruning remains the "goblet".

Controlling yields enables an average yield of 40Hl / Ha.

The Vineyard and the Biodiversity

The vine lives in symbiosis with its environment, hence the importance of protecting the flora and fauna that live around it.

Using biological control with bio-control solutions, installing bat shelters, are not very aggressive ways to defend it from natural predators.

Keeping open spaces by maintaining the woods and the scrubland allows flora (Orchids, Muscaris, Euphorbia, etc.) to colonise these spaces and shelter insects that protect the vine.

The stones piled at the edge of the plots serve as a refuge for snakes, lizards, mice, rabbits ..

The result of these modest gestures by the winegrower has an impact on the fragile balance of the vineyard and reinforces the winegrower’s role as an essential actor for biodiversity.