Mouressipe
Vaunage, Languedoc, France
Domaine Mouressipe is located in Saint-Côme-et-Maruéjols, in the Vaunage southwest of Nîmes. Its vines grow on hillsides at the foot of an ancient Gallo-Roman settlement, where clay-limestone and blue marl soils give the wines their freshness and precision.
Alain Allier's family had farmed vines in the Vaunage for generations. Over the years, Alain bought old vineyards that were about to be pulled up and replanted neglected land. Meeting Eric Pfifferling of Domaine de l'Anglore in 2004 changed his path. That same year he began vinifying part of his harvest, and by 2010 he was making wine from all of it. His wines quickly became known for being fresh, easy to drink, fine and precise.
Camille Jauras joined the domaine in 2020, and Pierre Saakovidi arrived in 2021. In 2024 the two formed their own farming partnership, GAEC Tarnagas, to take over from Alain. They carry on his approach while bringing fresh energy to the estate.
The domaine today covers 8.5 hectares, split into 17 small parcels. The reds are Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Merlot, and the whites are Clairette, Chardonnay, Chasselas and the local Saint-Côme. The vineyards are certified organic, ploughed gently and fed only with composted horse manure. Treatments stay well below the permitted limits.
In the cellar, grapes are picked by hand into small crates and chilled quickly. Whites and rosés are pressed slowly, over about eight hours. Reds are made differently depending on the vintage, sometimes using semi-carbonic maceration. The aim is wine made with nothing added, with just a small dose of sulphites only when a wine needs it for balance.
With Alain's legacy and Camille and Pierre's energy, the future looks bright at Mouressipe!
