Test site
This is a development version of the La Tronque website, and is not intended for public consumption. You are free to have a look around and test it out, but there will be errors. The official site is here: DomaineLaTronque.com.
The new version will be uploaded to that URL when it is ready.
Organic winemaking
In our constant awareness of the need to preserve the natural environment, which is ours, yours and which will be passed on to future generations our everyday agricultuural practice follows strictly the rules layed down by Nature and Progrès . We are also inspected by an independent organisation called Qualité France.
Nature et Progrés
Nature et Progrés is a society of producers, consumers and manufacturers who work together to set out the regulations for all organic agricultural products. It’s purpose is to further the development of all aspects of organic agriculture. The oganisation is recognised at a European level as one part of the production of organic agriculture.
In the vines
In Spring we plough the soil to limit the growth of weeds. The amount of work necessary in the following months depends on the rainfall.
During the growing season the vines are protected from oidium and mildew by treating with bouillie bordelaise and sulphur.
We use a liquid manure produced with stinging nettles to stimulate plant growth and ferns together with rotenone in the battle against the insect vector which carries the disease known as ‘flavescence dorée’
Only compost based manures are used.
The hedges help to produce a healthy ecosystem.
First and foremost we are looking for a well balanced natural environment where the vine can produce grapes which have all the necessary potential for successful vinification without the addition of artificial substances.
By choosing reduced yields we obtain a more concentrated product which gives a more complex wine.
The grapes are harvested by hand. We are able to be selective and in some cases to pick several times from the same vineyard.
In our wine cellar
Only the natural yeasts on the grapes themselves induce the process of fermentation.
The wine is clarified by draining it off the sediment and by using egg white (from our own chickens) and clay. The rules we follow are those set out by Nature et Progrès who make checks to ensure that the process of vinification conforms to their regulations. In the vineyard inspections are carried out by Qualité- France.
We bottle our wines ourselves at the Domaine in bottles typical of the Gaillac appelation.
The wine (see detailed descriptions)
Our wines have regularly won medals at the competitions we have entered. They have won prizes at the Gaillac wine fair, the competion of the regional capitals of the S.W and the National Competition for Organic Wines.