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Positioned in the south of France among the small commune of La Digne-d’Aval, this domain champions the oldest sparkling wine in the world.

Domaine J. Laurens was founded in the 1980s by Michel Dervin, an expert from the Champagne region, who bought existing vineyards and began to make the renowned Blanquette de Limoux. Limoux native, Jacques Calvel, who had been working in Switzerland, returned to his homeland to succeed Michel in 2002. Aided by Michel’s savoir-faire and winemaker Henri Albrus, the team restructured the domain to ensure the quality of their Blanquette de Limoux and Crémant de Limoux AOC wines improved year after year.

Historical records show that the Benedictine monks at the Saint Hilaire Abbey in Limoux have been producing Blanquette de Limoux sparkling since 1531, when a monk discovered that the wine he had bottled and corked formed bubbles after a second fermentation. This is said to be the first sparkling wine in the world, appearing about 150 years before Champagne. Local folklore indicates that famous monk, Dom Perignon, visited Limoux and took the technique back to Champagne where he popularised it.

The Blanquette de Limoux and Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale appellations have been in operation since 1938, both made on the traditional Limoux white grape varietal, Mauzac. The Crémant de Limoux appellation was added in 1990, which can now be produced with Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, with the option to add Mauzac and/or Pinot Noir.

Domaine J. Laurens wines are made in the méthode traditionnelle style, using a pneumatic pressing to ensure the juices run clear and pure. First fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, with the second fermentation completed in bottle, stimulated by the addition of sweet juice and yeasts. The deposit is then gradually worked towards the neck, before being frozen and disgorged.

Grapes are harvested by hand, and the uncrushed grapes rest on lees for a minimum of nine months for the Blanquette and 12 months for the Crémant. The wines are aged for between one and two years before release.