Domaine De Combet

Winery Situated on the Top of Monbazillac Plateau

Domaine De Combet winery is situated on the top of Monbazillac plateau, south of Bergerac, in Dordogne, close to Bordeaux. The winery is operating on 31 hectares of vines spread over more than 20 plots, in the Monbazillac and Bergerac appellations.

Establishing Organic Farming Techniques

Both white and black grape varieties are grown here. The white varieties are Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, and Muscadelle whereas Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Mérille are the black grape varieties. Since 2008, they have been using mechanical methods without the use of any chemical. Later in the year 2018, they adopted organic farming techniques. They only use organic products such as copper (anti-mildew) and sulfur (anti-powdery mildew). They use these products (quantity and frequency) according to the growth of the vine, the weather conditions and the pressure of diseases.

Domaine de Combet is one of the first wine estate certified “high environmental Value” in the French Aquitaine region.

Discovery of Noble Rot

The winery uses unique grape varieties treated by a particular species of fungus- Botrytis Cinerea or Noble rot. The discovery of this fungus was by accident. In 1080, clerks of Monbazillac forgot to harvest a plot of vines. Later, they noticed a rot that had spread around the grapes. Hence these grapes were discovered. This fungus spreads on the surface of the grape berries and has a unique contribution in imparting specific aromas like honey, acacia, candied fruits to the wine. The rot pierces the skin of the berry and the water contained in the juice evaporates and sugar concentrates.