Domaine du Cardona - Winery

Discover Domaine du Cardona Winery

Brothers Bruno and François Desnier, are the third generation of the family and have been managing Domaine du Cardona for several years. The winery and vineyard are located in Fraissé-des-Corbières near Perpignan, and produces wines within the Corbières AOC. The soil is mostly made of clay and limestone with lots of stones. As well as making modern style wines, Domaine du Cardona have one eye on the past, taking inspiration from ancient wines. These unusual wines are inspired by Roman and Medieval winemaking traditions, practices and recipes. They add garrigue honey from their own production and spices to the wines.

Winemaking at Domaine du Cardona

It is not only the recipes and methods that have a venerable history. Among the vines there are some that are more than one hundred years old. For red wines they grow Grenache Noir, Syrah and Carignan. Carignan is a variety originally from Spain but that is also widely used in southern France. The red blends of Domaine du Cardona all include these three grape varieties.

The Unusual Wine Styles of Domaine du Cardona

Their red wine “Philtre d’Amour” is a tribute to the Middle Ages. It is based on their basic red wine to which they add spices such as ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. The white version is made with Vermentino and Grenache Blanc grapes with ginger, cardamom, and star anise. “Vinum Mentha” is a white wine made from Viognier, Vermentino and Grenache Blanc grapes with fresh mint added during cold fermentation. The recipe is from the 12th century herbalist Saint Hildegarde Von Bingen. “Gallo-Romain” is based on a Roman drink that doctors advised their patients to drink. It was originally made around Narbonne. It’s a red wine with rosemary, bay, and local honey.

our experiences