Domaine Cotze is one of the most extreme projects in French wine. Founded in 2019 by Wilfried Garcia, it sits in the Cerdagne, high in the Pyrenees near the Spanish border, where vines are being planted at around 1,300 meters, among the highest in France.
Backstory
Wilfried Garcia was born and raised in the region and worked in hospitality before spending two seasons with Tom Lubbe of Domaine Matassa to learn winemaking. He created Domaine Cotze in 2019 in the hamlet of Bajande.
The Region
The estate lies in the heart of the Cerdagne, near the Spanish border. The parcels are worked in polyculture, mixing apple trees, pear trees, and vines on clay-schist soils, following an agroforestry approach in harmony with the high mountain environment.
Vineyards and Farming
Vines are planted at roughly 1,300 meters of altitude and farmed organically. While he waits for his own young vines to come into production, Garcia runs his Transhumancia negociant project, selecting organically grown grapes in Roussillon and hauling them up to his high-altitude cellar.
Winemaking
In the cellar, Garcia works with native yeast and as little intervention as possible, citing Tom Lubbe as an inspiration. Sulfur is added only if absolutely necessary.
The Wines
The Transhumancia label covers reds, whites, and skin-contact wines from Roussillon fruit, and Garcia's wider aim is to make wine, cider, and fruit juices that reflect this high-mountain territory.
