It all started with Michel Poudou, a native of the Minervois region. His family has been making wine in the region since the 17th century. You could say that it is in his DNA. Michel has worked all his life as a Flying Winemaker. His activity and his passion have taken him all over the world: first in France, then in the United States, China, North Africa, India, [...] and Spain.
It was there that he met Julian Lopèz Olaso, who called on his expertise to create a winery in the Utiel-Requena region, near Valencia in Spain. From 1993 to 2008, they built the beautiful Bodega Chozas Carrascal. It is a great success!
During all these years of collaboration, Michel, his wife Martine, Julian Lopèz Olaso and his wife Maria-José Peidro Montaner have become close friends. It was during an informal conversation that they talked about setting up a second project together, but this time in France. In France, but not just anywhere. They chose the unique terroir of Saint-Jean-de-Minervois.
At that time, the Domaine de Montahuc, named after the mountain peak "Le Montahuc" at 640 metres above sea level, was for sale. It was a simple farmhouse with 7 hectares of vines, managed organically since 1990. Michel, for whom making organic wine is an obvious choice, fell under the spell of this unique place. At altitude, on a very mineral soil, at the top of the canyons, it is the perfect place!
When he introduced his friends to Saint-Jean-de-Minervois, they fell in love immediately! As Michel says, "We wanted to make a local wine, good, organic and different from the others. In 2005, they embarked on the adventure and bought Domaine de Montahuc together.
For 15 years, the estate has produced exclusively Vin Doux Naturel. Sold in France and abroad, the 50 cl Muscat received two years in a row, in 2006 and 2007, a gold medal at the Best Muscat of the World contest.
"Making Muscat is something else than the rest".
Michel Poudou
In 2020, Michel retires and appoints his nephew, Pascal Revel, as new manager. While in Spain, Julian Lopèz Olaso and his wife introduce their two children to the management of Bodega Chozas Carrascal.
The new generation invested massively and undertook numerous projects. Several new plots of vines were purchased in Saint-Jean-de-Minervois, the winery was enlarged and modernized, offices were created on site, the range was extended with dry wines ("Prélude" in white, "Canyon de l'Eglise" and "Chant des Pierres" in red), a tasting cellar was set up and the team expanded.
In 2022, Chozas Carrascal became the sole owner of the Domaine de Montahuc.
The terroir of Saint-Jean-de-Minervois is unique! We are proud to perpetuate the traditions of the appellation and to participate in writing its next chapter.
