Le Soula | Fenouillèdes

Le Soula is a project created in 2001 by winemaker Gerard Gauby and his UK Importers at the time Mark Walford and Roy Richards. Gerard Gauby was convinced that the old vines at Fenouilledes located on the heights at the foot of the Pyrenees benefited from a cooler climate and had the potential to produce wines of really high quality. At 650 metres above sea level these vines are some of the highest in France.

Together, they bought vines in the best sites and an old house in the altitude village of Saint Martin de Fenouillet, located in the heart of the vineyard. The house became Soula's first cellar and from the start in 2001, the red and white wines were renowned for being pure wines, full of vitality and character.

In 2012, Roy and Mark sold their wine import business to Berry Bros & Rudd and it was Mark who took over the management and marketing of Soula. In 2016, Wendy Wilson, with her extensive experience in vineyard management in the Loire and in the United States, took up the torch behind Gérald and she is now at the head of the Soula team. They have been organic since the outset and biodynamic since 2008.

The soil is granitic and poor. The climate is hard and extreme, combining the heat of the Southern sun and the cold and rain of the mountains and the Tramontane wind. The vineyard of around 23 hectares, surrounded by 53 hectares of Garrigue, is principally comprised of very old vines. The red grapes are Carignan, Syrah and Grenache Noir. The whites are blended from a cocktail of Macabeu, Sauvignon, Grenache Blanc, Gris, Marsanne, Roussanne, Malvoisie du Roussillon and Chardonnay.

The wines are renowned for their purity, vitality and indeed character. They are to be found on some of the finest tables from Paris, London, New York and further afield.

LE SOULA