The story of Les Abrigans begins with a bureaucratic act of love. Laura Lees, who worked for the French government processing land transactions, was about to finalize the closure of a 90-hectare parcel of abandoned Corbières vineyards when she stopped. The beauty of the place held her there. Two years later, in 2017, she and Arthur Joly produced their first vintage — 1,112 bottles — with the support of experienced Corbières producer Dominique Terrier of Dom and Terre.
Backstory
That first vintage was the start of something serious. Domaine Les Abrigans has grown steadily since 2017, expanding to roughly 10 hectares and building a portfolio of close to ten distinct cuvées. What began as a rescue mission has become one of the more exciting natural wine projects in the Languedoc.
The Region
Les Abrigans is based in the Corbières, a wild and rugged appellation in the Languedoc, near the village of Cascastel-des-Corbières. The landscape here is rocky, arid, and dramatic — garrigue-covered hillsides broken by streams and shaped by wind. The vineyards sit at the border with Fitou, where the terrain grows especially stark and expressive.
Vineyards and Farming
The soils on the Abrigans parcels range from blue and red schist to orange schist and ancient planktonic limestone — a varied foundation that gives each cuvée its own distinct mineral personality. Farming is organic, favoring biodynamic principles, low yields, hand work, and grazing animals to maintain soil health. No synthetic treatments are used.
Winemaking
All wines are made without additives, sulfites, or compromises. Indigenous yeasts drive every fermentation, and the wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered. The approach is artisanal throughout — small batches, attentive cellar work, and a commitment to transparency in every cuvée.
The Wines
The portfolio includes Les Brigades Roses (rosé), La Babascat (orange wine), La Jajathèque, Djur, Facettes Pet Nat, Disco Pet Nat, Le Courage des Oiseaux, and La Maibou. Each wine has its own identity, but all share the schist-driven freshness that defines the Abrigans terroir.
