Located 20km from Montpellier in a region that was historically known more for sheep and olive trees than vines, the Ermitage Pic St Loup estate covers 55ha of vineyards, with a further 300ha of woods on the property. Established by brothers Jean-Marc, Pierre and Xavier Ravaille, this is a family operation with a long winemaking history dating back to the 18th century.

Produced from vines grown on different terrains – limestone, clay, red earth, gravel and pebbles – the wines show incredible balance. They benefit further from the microclimate and protection provided by the Pic St Loup mountain.

The estate has been working sustainably for several years and the brothers explain that care is particularly given to the cultivation of the vine, which is conducted entirely organically (with ECOCERT certification) and biodynamically (uncertified). “The soils are ploughed, the vines are harvested manually, and no pesticides are used. We do not add yeast, and use very little sulphur,” they say.