Maison Ventenac, Cassandre Vermentino

This is a delicious white made from the ultra-trendy Vermentino grape variety, showing freshness, texture and depth of flavour in a really classy and delicious glass of sunshine! Flavours of white peach, lime peel, orange blossom, it has a mouth filling palate that is balanced by a lovely fresh tension.

Olivier planted this Vermentino as a response to the change in climate that he sees, which has threatened the balance in his wines. Native to Italy and warmer European regions, Vermentino retains its freshness and acidity even with warmer temperatures, which means it has a great number of fans in the south of France, where temperatures are going up on what seems to be an annual basis...

Maison Ventenac is a young and dynamic project based in the vineyards of the Ramé family in Cabardès, north of the city of Carcassonne, at the (fairly wild) west of the Languedoc. Characterised by the split in place between Atlantic and Mediterranean bodies of water, their vineyards are likewise split between the Atlantic (Cabernets, Merlot and Malbec) and the Mediterranean (Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvedre). Limestone forms the sub-soil in the best parts of the family's vineyards, together with their dense planting of vines and the relatively wet winters in the region, there is a real sense of excitement for the future of the region.

In organic conversion, the rewards for this winery are only beginning to be seen. What we really like about them though is their honesty - they love all that they do, but what they like most is Cabernet Franc - certainly not a Mediterranean grape and the third grape of the Atlantic, this variety seems to really blossom in the hands of the Ramé family. Vermentino from Italy? Well, if it works in their vineyards, why not!

This sense of discovery, as seen in planting non-Mediterranean varieties place in their vineyards, is at the heart of what they appear to do, but if doesn't detract from their respect to terroir, to the non-use of chemical sprays, to admitting their own prejudices - it's clearly a key part of their success.