Located in a village with only 133 residents, surrounded by the peaks of the Pyrenees in the Cucugnan Valley, Southwest France, Domaine Peter Sichel is run by the Founders' Grandson, Alex, with a view to crafting biodynamic wines on sloped vineyard sites.
Already an owner of Bordeaux Chateau d'Angludet and shareholder in Chateau Palmer, Peter Sichel purchased this estate as a holiday home in the 1970s. A simple wine was made, sold under the Corbières appellation, but in 2019, his grandson Alex saw the potential of the site and asked to take over the running of the domaine and put his stamp on it.
When he took over ownership of the site, Alex had a vision to leave the Corbières appellation, reduce the vineyard size by 50% and concentrate only on vineyard sites on slopes and at altitudes up to 500m.
The valley floor vineyards are now pasture and grazed by sheep and the retained sites are organically and biodynamically farmed. A recent collaboration with the University of Utrecht, which had been studying the flora and fauna of the valley for 50 years because of its pristine isolation, is also trialling the use of indigenous plant life as a cover crop to enrich the soils, instead of sowing non-native plants. As a result, the vineyards and hillsides are now a riot of biodiversity.
Wines to Seek Out...
We’ll have five expressions from their estate available in the Cellar Door Shop from 7th June, ranging from light, fruity Grenache to rich, textured Carignan. Expect wines that are a true reflection of their breathtaking location.
Why Domaine Peter Sichel?
Farming With Nature
To preserve both their surrounding environment and the innate quality of the grapes that they grow, all Sichel’s Vineyards are managed organically and run biodynamically.
To preserve both their surrounding environment and the innate quality of the grapes that they grow, all Sichel’s Vineyards are managed organically and run biodynamically.
The More, The Merrier:
At the core of their sustainability agenda is the introduction of local plant life to their sites to maintain and regenerate vineyard health, as well as to boost the natural biodiversity of their locale. Alongside this, agro-forestry is key to their practises, meaning that trees are integrated into all of their sites alongside their crops, to promote better ecological balance.
At the core of their sustainability agenda is the introduction of local plant life to their sites to maintain and regenerate vineyard health, as well as to boost the natural biodiversity of their locale. Alongside this, agro-forestry is key to their practises, meaning that trees are integrated into all of their sites alongside their crops, to promote better ecological balance.
Waste Not, Want Not:
The Domaine harnesses its natural resources to both preserve and enhance the quality of the fruit it produces. In February and March, sheep appear in the vineyards to aid with soil fertilisation (the cover crops are also an excellent source of energy for sheep ahead of lambing season!). Post-production, they ensure all packaging is chosen with sustainability in mind, meaning the planet is a key consideration from beginning to end.
Social Responsibility:
In such a small community, care for the people around them is a critical element of their success. Their facilities have helped reintroduce employment and oeno-tourism into a region of declining population.
Highlight Wine: Mark Pardoe MW's Pick
Domaine Peter Sichel - Montanha, 2025- £30
Looks like a red, drinks like a rosé. A wine from high altitude Grenache (300-400m) with only a 30 hour infusion on skins and just 12.5% alcohol. Serve it chilled and bask in the wine’s summer fruits of strawberry and raspberry, spiced with a hint of ground black pepper.
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