Domaine de la Louvière - Winery

The Roots of Domaine de la Louvière

Historically the “louvière” was the place in the Pyrenees where wolves met as a pack to hunt. Today it is where Klaus Grohe and his family make wines under the name Domaine de la Louvière. It is truly a family affair since 1992 when they took over the vineyard and now Klaus is joined by his four sons.

Specific Microclimate for the Vineyards to Flourish

The winery is based in the village of Malviès which is in the heart of the Malepère appellation. They also have vines in the Limoux and Crémant de Limoux appellations. The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees mountains creates a special microclimate. The terroir is well known for being stony, in fact, the name Malepère translates as “bad stone”. The Grohes do not see this as a disadvantage, on the contrary, the large stones absorb the intense sun and protecting the vines from cooler evening temperatures.

Winemaking and Organic Production

The winery committed to organic production. They limit the yield per hectare to 50 hectolitres. At the same time, they are open to modern methods if they do not contravene organic principles. They use both oak barrels and stainless steel vats for maturing the wine. Centuries ago, monks made a sparkling wine, Blanquette de Limoux, here long before Champagne came along. Nevertheless, the Domaine La Louvière Winery blends Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet France varieties for its reds made in the Malepère appellation. In the Limoux appellation, however, the soil is chalky and ideal for white grape varieties. Domaine La Louvière makes a Blanquette de Limoux using Mauzac and Chardonnay grapes.