Limoux: land of legend
At the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire, near Limoux, the world's first sparkling wine was created in 1544. A monk, whether by luck, ingenuity, or cunning, depending on your perspective, poured Blanquette wine into a flask before its fermentation was complete. Thus, it continued to ferment in the bottle, creating bubbles, unbeknownst to the monks. Therefore, Limoux can proudly be considered the birthplace of sparkling wine.
History: The Antech Family
For seven generations, the ANTECH FAMILY has passionately cultivated Great Sparkling Wines on the slopes of Limoux. Françoise, Georges, Baptiste, Zélie, Jules, Eugénie, Marguerite, Edmond Georges, and even Roger are just some of the figures who, over the decades, have contributed their energy to creating exceptional expertise, passed down from generation to generation. Women have always played a central role in this remarkable family, demonstrating a strength of character that is an integral part of ANTECH's style and DNA.
Vineyard
Since 1860, the Antech family has cultivated the land of Limoux, a unique terroir where the freshness of the Pyrenees blends with a Mediterranean climate. Located at an altitude of 400 meters, their vineyards enjoy ideal conditions: natural drainage, significant temperature variations between day and night, and the coolness of the snow-capped Pyrenean slopes until May. These factors foster the vitality and tension necessary to produce their exceptional sparkling wines. Dedicated to organic farming since 2020, the family favors environmentally friendly agriculture, thanks to the ever-present wind on the slopes. Their efforts are also focused on developing the Mauzac grape, perfectly adapted to this microclimate, and on diversifying their crops, such as acquiring an olive grove in 2023.
A reflected and sustainable philosophy
Françoise and Baptist combine tradition and innovation in their work each year, adapting their centuries-old knowledge inspired by their travels to wine regions renowned for their sparkling wines. They prefer a minimalist approach, seeking to allow the terroir to express itself naturally without excessive intervention. To guarantee the quality of the grapes and preserve their freshness, the harvest is done exclusively by hand, ensuring an artisanal process and preserving the wine's authentic characteristics.
The winemaking process begins with a slow and delicate pressing, which allows the extraction of a bright must, in which each variety (Mauzac, Chardonnay, Chenin, Pinot Noir, etc.) is vinified separately at low temperature.
After wintering on the lees and meticulous blending, the vintages are aged for extended periods to reveal their full complexity. Each cuvée is now vintage, giving every bottle the opportunity to reflect the story of the year it comes from. Finally, a minimal dosage, or even no dosage at all, is applied to enhance the wine and allow it to fully express its terroir.
