Côtes de Provence, France

Domaine des Aspras

Located along the Argens valley, at the northern limit of the Côtes de Provence Appellation, is Aspras. The estate benefits from a privileged geographical location for its 32 hectares of vines with an average age of seventeen years. They have all been grown organically since 1995. The specificities of this land , surrounded by limestone hills with white earth, gave it its name " d' asper- aspera " , the "rockery", "the thorn" and the "roughness of a terroir" in Latin.

After fleeing Germany in the 30s and suddenly leaving Congo after its independance in the 60s, Gottfried and Lisa Latz landed in the south of France and settled in Correns in Provence where they discovered their passion about wine. The family shortly bought some parcels of vines and during many years sold the grapes to the negoce. In 1971, when Michael Latz, agricultural engineer by training, joined his widowed mom LISA for help, the first bottles are marketed and Château Aspras is born. Today, Michael is helped by his 3 sons Raphael, Alexandre and Sébastien: «Les 3 Frères».

Biodynamic farming is also used in the vineyards with use of compost from cattle and sheep manure. Some plots are worked with horses and some sheeps weed the vines naturally. Plantation of hedges and trees have been done to promote biodiversity.