At a glance
- Founded: 1920, on a property that dates back to 1734; independent and organic since 2000
- Location: On a hill about 4km from Pézenas, around 30km inland from the Mediterranean
- Winemaker: Benoît, who makes the wine; the estate is run by Anne, Christian and their children Benoît and Margot
- Vineyards: Around 30 hectares of vines and scrub on clay-limestone with quartz gravel, inside a Natura 2000 zone
- Farming: Organic since 2000; members of the LPO, France’s bird protection league
- Emblem: The hoopoe
The place
Monplézy sits about 30km inland from the Mediterranean, on a hill roughly 4km from Pézenas, swept by the tramontane and the mistral with garrigue on every side and views to the Canigou, the Espinouse, the Caroux and the sea. They manage around 30 hectares of vines and scrub on clay-limestone with quartz gravel managed organically. The whole site sits inside a Natura 2000 zone (nature protection area.)
A story of two families
The estate is a story of two families. Jean Sutra de Germa, a wine merchant from Béziers, founded it in 1920 on a property that dates back to 1734. The Gil family arrived from Spain in the 1940s and Michel Gil bought his first three hectares; the two families joined, and the double-barrelled name on the labels is the result. For decades the fruit went to the co-operative, under Georges Sutra - who was a serious figure, a wine-union leader and a Member of the European Parliament. In 2000 Anne and Christian took the estate independent and converted the whole thing to organic in the same year. Today it is Anne, Christian, and their children Benoît, who makes the wine, and Margot.
The hoopoe
Being free of chemical pesticides for more than a decade has genuinely transformed the ecosystem. The estate is a member of the LPO, France’s bird protection league, and its emblem is the hoopoe - the crested bird that nests in the old tree trunks they deliberately leave standing, and that comes back north each year from wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. The insect population came back, and the birds came with it.
A bit of Pézenas
Pézenas was the seat of the Governors of Languedoc from the 16th to the 18th century, which is why a small town has such grand houses. Molière’s company performed there under the patronage of the Prince de Conti - though locals will admit the Molière connection is a little overpuffed. The town’s real edible speciality is the petit pâté de Pézenas, a small sweet-spiced mutton pie, supposedly taught to local pastry cooks by Clive of India’s household in 1768. A sweet-spiced mutton pie and a Pézenas red is not a bad pairing gag.
The wines
Benoît came to visit us in May and showed us the whole range. We already stock the Félicité range, and we’ve now added two fresh and juicy Canon Huppé wines and two seriously impressive Emoción wines aged in oak.
Domaine Monplézy, Canon Huppé Blanc 2025
£16
Rolle / Vermentino · IGP Côtes de Thongue
Vermentino is fast becoming a favourite grape, for us and our customers. This perfect balance between fruitiness and crisp freshness is spot on.
Domaine Monplézy, Canon Huppé Rouge 2025
£16
Cinsault · IGP Côtes de Thongue
Super fresh, pure fruit with a hint of spice, lean juicy finish. You can enjoy this lightly chilled.
Domaine Monplézy, Emoción Blanc 2023
£29
Marsanne, Roussanne · AOC Languedoc
This is what a top Languedoc white can do. It shows the nutty, honeyed minerality of Marsanne and the oily stone fruit character of Roussanne, aged 6 months in oak to bring it together. Rich, complex and rewarding.
Domaine Monplézy, Emoción Rouge 2022
£29
Syrah, Carignan · AOC Languedoc-Pézenas
Truly stunning wine. 12 months in oak. The Carignan (5% of the blend) was carbonically fermented to give that burst of pure lush fruit at the core and the Syrah brings its velvety cherries and mocha. The rest is the terroir expression: garrigue herbs and spices, earthy smokiness… sooo good.
We also stock the Félicité range: Félicité Blanc and Félicité Rouge.
Where to taste them
Domaine Monplézy, Canon Huppé Blanc 2025 will be pouring by the glass in our bars from 4th November
Browse the full Languedoc and Roussillon range, or take the six-bottle case - one wine from each of our six growers, including Gayda, Monplézy and La Dourbie.
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