Domaine Arretxea

Domaine Arretxea was created in the 1990s by Thérèse and Michel Riouspeyrous in the heart of the magnificent Basque vineyard of Irouleguy. Located on the southern slopes of the Western Pyrenees, the estate benefits from an altitude of between 200m and 400m all around Saint Etienne de Baïgorry and Saint Jean Pied de Port. The estate, since the installation with them of their two sons Iban and Teo, extends over 12 ha : 4.5 ha in white grapes (Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng and Petit Courbu) and 7.5 ha red (Tannat in majority, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon). The vineyard is located in a majestic landscape on steep hillsides and terraces, surrounded by mountains, Basque valleys and benefiting from the Foehn effect of the south winds in the late season. Certified in organic farming since 1998 and in biodynamics, the family works without chemical fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides and seeks to have a living biodiversity by working on the development of a rich and varied ecosystem. They also work to safeguard their plant heritage, one of their hobby horses. All the harvests are done manually in crates and with particular attention to the sorting of the grapes in order to pick the healthiest grapes possible. In the cellar, fermentations are launched from vat feet in indigenous yeasts, the estate carries out a real work of selection of indigenous yeasts on their own terroir in order to maintain a unity of style. Aging on lees with light stirring is then carried out in order to bring a certain roundness to grape varieties that can sometimes seem hard and sometimes austere. No wine is subsequently fined, but filtered lightly according to the profile of the vintage.