You are here : home page Figueirasse estate     FIGUEIRASSE PROPERTY History Located in "Petite Camargue" between an old hand of the Rhône (called today the dead Rhône of Saint Roman) dried up in 1500 and the sea, the estate of Figueirasse hold its name from the fig- tree At the end of the 19th century, vines were devastated by phylloxera but those in sandy soils were resisting. So, "Petite Camargue" having that specific terroir, vines were planted and, thanks to the viticulture, the estate of Figueirasse took then another size. In those days, it was a 20 hectares property. Saumade family, landowner since 1905, started to increased the planted surface by leveling land on 30 hectares more and doubled the cellar capacity. Along the years, a full modern winemaking equipment was installed in the estate of Figueirasse, which can today produce top quality "Vins des Sables". Its soil The Estate owns today 55 hectares of vines with a very special terroir : wholly made of sand from wind erosion, poor and drainig soil, but with a good qualitative capability.   Close to the sea, less than 200 meters, which, thanks to humid sea-breezes, allows the vines to well resist to the summer drought.   Grape varieties Traditionaly assigned to white and grey grape varieties, that soil was found specially well adapted for " new " grape varieties as, Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah and good quality white grapes. 30% Merlot average 20 years old 20% Grenache Noir 25 years old 10% Syrah 15 years old 10% Cabernet Sauvignon average 10 years old 10% Grenache Blanc average 20 years old 10% Cinsault average 20 years old 5% Roussanne & Marsanne 15 years old 5% Grenache Gris 20 years old Vine cultivation The Estate of Figueirasse is an isolated land, it takes advantage of iodized sprays from the sea which have on the vine an aseptic effect. On the property, the viticultural works begin right after the harvest, with, between the rows, a sowing of barley and rye, to protect sand from wind erosion. That "grass" will be used later on during spring as green manure, beeing ploughed in the sand by a rotary hoe (no need of weed killer). A good watching and follow up of the vines allows a sound cultivation, to supply the appropriate treatments only when required.