We purchased this property in the beginning of 1994. When we arrived it was in a state of complete dilapidation. To such a point that in 1993 there was not one single grape. The former owner didn’t have the means to treat the vineyard allowing the disease mildew decimating everything.

Therefore the grape harvest in 1994 was extraordinary because the yield was very weak (5 hl/ha) and the wine was very concentrated. Since then we have approached more normal yields staying within sensible levels (about 45 hl/ha) to obtain a good concentration and an emphasis on the local grape (the principal grape variety is called the Négrette).

Much hard work had to be done in order to put the property back into order. The vineyard, the agricultural and the wine production material and facilities were renovated..

Chateau Ferran reach prominence in 1986 to 1988. After this point its reputation had deteriorated considerably. The commercial network was therefore totally inexistent in 1994. However, it was very difficult to get the marketing going immediately, because we didn’t have the sufficient wine volumes. Fortunately, today the quality and quantity are back where they belong.

In addition to this, we do own paint horses. One of our labels shows our first mare of our horse production. We imported our stallion and the mares from the States and Canada to own the best genes.

«Mons Aureolus », Golden Mountain according to the Romans, the terroir of Château Montauriol has crossed more than five centuries with glory and wine-growing panache. Like the whole area of Villaudric and of Fronton this was a property of the knights belonging to the saint Jean de Jérusalem order and to the abbey of Moissac. Its wine, from the 12th century on, travelled with this war order. The absolute arm to convert the unfaithful, the wine of Château Montauriol travelled in the conquest of the Holy Lands and hearten the courageous knights who were longing for their country under the ramparts of saint Jean d’Acre.

Appreciated by the Pope Calixte II, de Richelieu and of King Louis XIII who camped there during the siege of Montauban, the domain was passed on to the Compte d’Espié, a noble inhabitant of Toulouse.

Acquired at a court sale August 13th 1789 by a lawyer of the Toulousian Parliament, Monsieur Saint-Plancat, Château Montauriol would belong to the same family for seven generations.

In 1995, the castle and its vineyard were bought by Monsieur Hector de Galard who was active in the wine business in several French regions and abroad, co-founder of Chateau Bellevue La Forêt which he co-owned until 1986. Unfortunately, as a result of M. de Galard’s death the viability of the property was compromised.


In June 1998 we were proud to acquire Château Montauriol and of course, as we previously had with Chateau Ferran we strive for quality while respecting the vineyard and wine production process.