The Return of Cabernet Franc at Château La Garde

At Château La Garde, every replanting is a long-term commitment. In 2025, Cabernet Franc will return to the vineyard, following a carefully managed period of soil rest and regeneration. A grape variety choice that is both distinctive and strategic.

Preparing the soils first

Replanting a vine is never a trivial gesture. It’s a commitment for 30, 40, sometimes 50 years. So before replanting, preparation comes first.

In 2022, a historic plot yielded its last harvest; in 2023, it was uprooted. But not replanted. The decision was made to leave the soils fallow for three years, allowing them to regenerate naturally.

Green manures are sown, organic compost is added. This process restores the soil’s structure, increases its water retention capacity, and brings life back to it, creating the ideal conditions for planting vines and producing grapes of ever-higher quality.

A thoughtful return to Cabernet Franc

In 2025, this plot will welcome a grape variety historically emblematic of La Garde, and now rather rare in the region: Cabernet Franc. It fits perfectly with the estate’s DNA and our ambition to craft wines that are more resilient in the face of climate change.

The young vines won’t be harvested before 2027. Until then, they will grow slowly under the careful watch of our technical team.

This return of Cabernet Franc, planned over a total of five years, embodies our philosophy: taking the time to do things well, to produce even better wines.