La Jasse Castel

A Passion Born from Love at First Sight

Domaine La Jasse Castel sits in Saint-Jean-de-Fos, perched high on the windswept Causse de Montpeyroux at 400 meters altitude. Pascale Rivière created the estate in 1997 after falling for a 17th-century sheepfold and its surrounding vines. The property takes its name from the old bergerie itself, La Jasse, while Castel honors the previous owner. This is one of the highest vineyard sites in the region, where the vines face constant winds and bask in Mediterranean sunshine. The estate now covers around 10 to 11 hectares scattered across some of the Languedoc's most prestigious terroirs, including Terrasses du Larzac and Montpeyroux. The soils here are a beautiful mosaic of limestone, clay, sand and gravel that bring remarkable complexity to the wines.

The vineyards themselves tell their own stories. There's a century-old Cinsault near the village of Arboras, an ancient Carignan tucked among the olive groves, purebred Syrah planted at the edge of an oak forest, and goblet-trained Grenache in the heart of the Seranne landscape. Each parcel has its own character, its own voice. In 2014, Pascale built a beautiful wooden cellar that serves both as a functional winemaking space and a welcoming place to receive visitors and craft her wines.

The Unlikely Winemaker

Nothing in Pascale's background suggested she would become a vigneronne. She worked as a journalist, teacher and writer before wine called to her. The desire to create a domaine grew stronger over time until it became reality in 1998 with her first vintage. She describes her journey as something that felt inevitable, even though it was completely unexpected. Today she works largely on her own, dedicating herself fully to this windswept plateau and its vines.

Pascale farms organically, certified by Ecocert since 2008. She's not biodynamic, as she puts it simply: she needs to work every day, not just with the moon and stars. Her approach focuses on preserving the originality of the soils and protecting the local fauna. Yields are kept extremely low, between 15 and 25 hectoliters per hectare, which gives the wines their natural concentration and richness. Everything is harvested by hand in small baskets, then sorted and destemmed. Fermentation happens naturally with slow extraction over five weeks in tank. Only part of the Syrah sees barrel aging, while the other varieties mature in tank. In 2009, Pascale co-founded Vinifilles, a respected association of 20 female winemakers across Languedoc-Roussillon, created to share experiences and present a more realistic image of women in wine.

Wines That Speak of Place

La Jasse Castel produces a focused range of wines across several appellations: Terrasses du Larzac, Languedoc, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and IGP Hérault. The flagship red, La Jasse, is Syrah-based from clay soils. The small, dark grapes produce firm tannins and deep aromas while maintaining surprising freshness. Les Combariolles showcases Grenache from arid, stony terroir, offering depth and aging potential. Bleu Velours brings together all the old vines from Montpeyroux and spends time in barrel. Pimpanela, meaning both peony and clever woman in Occitan, blends Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault for a luscious, gastronomic red.

The whites are equally compelling. El Abanico, planted in 2009 at 400 meters, is a tiny production of just two barrels from a field blend of white Carignan, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Chardonnay, Petit Manseng and Chenin. It's oxidative, powerful and driven by incredible acidity. L'Egrisée is a textured, refined Grenache Blanc blend. There's even Tutti Frutti, a rosé made from three colors of the ancient Terret grape. These wines burst with life, vitality and a freshness that captures something essential about this remarkable place.