Domaine de Pajot is situated on the hills overlooking Eauze, the small town that is the capital of Armagnac, a region famous for its eau-de-vie.  There is something laid-back about this part of Southwest France, and life seems to take on a slower pace amid these verdant hills and sunflower fields.  Here in the heart of Gascogne, third-generation proprietor Damien Barreau and his son, Clement, cultivate grapes, as well as the hazelnuts that feature in the domaine’s logo.

The estate is certified organic and the vines benefit from excellent soil, sun exposure, and altitude. The family has 80 acres of vines on gently rolling hillsides composed of sand and fine silt soils. There they grow the regional white grapes of Colombard, Ugni Blanc, Gros Manseng and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.

All harvests are done by hand, and although the humidity makes organic viticulture difficult, the domaine has been committed to organics since 2001.  They do not use any chemical fertilizers or pesticides, and various cover crops thrive throughout the estate. These crops, such as peas, rye and other grains, bring biodiversity to the vineyard and help build and aerate the soils. The domaine continues to raise the bar with agroforestry; by planting trees on the property they are able to increase drainage and counteract rising temperatures while further strengthening biodiversity.

Les 4 Cépages is a dry white Côtes de Gascogne made from the four main regional varieties mentioned above: Colombard, Ugni-Blanc, Sauvignon, and Gros-Manseng. All four grapes are complementary and balance each other well, resulting in a dry, zippy, incredibly refreshing white that is a go-to value every vintage.