Domaine de Cambis, organic winemaker in Saint-Chinian Berlou
In the heart of the schist hillsides of Berlou, in Haut-Languedoc, Domaine de Cambis cultivates its vines organically and continues a family history that began in 2004.
Who is Martin? A young organic winemaker in Berlou
Martin is the "young" winemaker of Domaine de Cambis. He freshly took over the reins alone in January 2019, when his mother Annick, the founding winemaker of the Domaine in 2004, retired. Although always accompanied by his parents in the winemaking adventure, it was in 2014 that Martin truly began alongside Annick, after having obtained his BPREA (Brevet Professionnel Responsable d'Exploitation Agricole - Professional Certificate in Agricultural Farm Management).
Before returning to the vineyard, Martin had another destiny in mind. Management and international business studies, returning from Mexico in 2012, he was headed for a career in video games. It was at this moment that he changed course and returned to the classrooms of his old agricultural high school in Montpellier to learn the craft of winemaking.
The Perolari family then took advantage of the "succession" being assured to launch the project for the construction of a new winery in Berlou, which began in 2011 and was completed in 2017. In the process, they began the conversion of the vineyard to organic farming in the summer of 2018, which would be completed with the 2021 vintage.
Martin's vision
“For me, being a winemaker is a clever blend of respecting one's terroir, highlighting its potential, and making it accessible to as many people as possible.
When you look at Berlou, it's century-old vines that produce little, but good, very good! And we must succeed in showcasing these juices while making them understandable to the consumer.
In my opinion, wine is still too complicated and perceived as "elitist" today, especially by young people. How many times have I been told during a tasting, "Sorry for the words, I don't know anything about it." I would like people who taste my wine to let go! That they first appreciate it for what it is, that is to say, a convivial product to share with loved ones. After that will come the more in-depth analysis. Wine is a pure pleasure product, and there is one for every occasion.”
— Martin Perolari, winemaker at Domaine de Cambis
A successful organic certification
After a first successful vinification in 2020, Martin obtained organic farming certification during the 2021 vintage. This approach is not a trend at Domaine de Cambis: it is the culmination of years of dedicated work, respecting an exceptional terroir and biodiversity that deserves to be preserved.
With his partner Caroline, project ideas are flourishing to open the doors of the Domaine to new visitors and introduce this magical place to wine lovers and other bon vivants passing through the region.
An independent winemaker in Saint-Chinian Berlou
Domaine de Cambis is an independent winemaker and wine producer. Each cuvée is the result of work entirely carried out on site: from pruning to pressing, from vinification to aging, right up to bottling. This complete mastery allows Martin to fully express the richness of the schist soils of Berlou, an emblematic terroir of the Saint-Chinian PDO.
Domaine de Cambis is also a member of the Haut-Languedoc Regional Natural Park, a recognition of its commitment to a preserved territory.
Discover our wines
The Domaine de Cambis range consists of 12 cuvées in white, rosé, red, and natural sparkling wines. From classic Mediterranean grape varieties to bolder blends, each wine tells the story of a plot, a grape variety, and a savoir-faire.