Château Beauregard Mirouze sits on the Fontfroide massif near Narbonne, surrounded by forest and garrigue. Karine and Nicolas Mirouze farm it not as a monoculture but as a living estate, with hedges, sheep and woodland woven around the vines.
Backstory
The property has been in the family since 1881. Nicolas took over in 2000, when grapes were still being sold off to négociants, and with Karine spent the next decade rebuilding the soils and the estate's identity. They converted to certified organic farming, achieving certification in 2013, and have farmed biodynamically since 2018, gaining Demeter certification in 2019.
The Region
The estate lies near Bizanet in the Corbières of Languedoc-Roussillon, on rocky hills above the appellation. Around 25 hectares of vines sit within a much larger private reserve of forest and scrubland, a buffer that helps protect biodiversity and the vineyard's health.
Vineyards & Farming
The Mirouzes make their own compost, keep sheep to graze between the rows and plant hedges to encourage wildlife. The vineyard is planted to a Mediterranean spread of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, Marsanne, Roussanne, Vermentino, Viognier and Merlot. Everything is hand-harvested.
Winemaking
Fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeasts. The natural cuvées are vinified without additives, with gentle extraction, little or no pumping, and minimal sulfur. The pair describe their work as constantly asking how they could farm better and make better wine.
The Wines
Alongside the classic Corbières bottled under the historic Campana label, the couple make a playful natural range often nicknamed the 'ouze' wines, including Sol, an earthy old-vine Syrah and Mourvèdre red, the lighter, north-facing Ciel de Sud, plus RouZe, BlouZe and others spanning red, rosé and white.
