At Domaine Daurion, the 2026 harvest is now behind us. The last
bunches have been picked from the vines, the presses have stopped, and the vineyard is gradually returning to its
calm, autumnal state.
But behind the doors of the winery, activity is far from slowing down.
October is a crucial month: the month when the grapes truly become wine, when the
first decisions shape the character of the future vintage.

In the wine cellar, every detail counts

After the excitement of the harvest comes a more low-key, yet equally fascinating, phase of work.
Racking, analytical tests, tastings, initial blending trials… Each tank
requires special attention.
The 2026 whites are beginning to reveal their character. Chardonnay, the
grape variety emblematic of our history, naturally plays a major role in our
tastings.
The reds continue to evolve, each at its own pace, depending on the winemaking choices
made during the harvest.
This year, we notably explored three different approaches: a winemaking method
inspired by carbonic maceration, a traditional winemaking method, and a special project
focused on Marselan.

Three approaches, three expressions of the grape, but one philosophy: to preserve the fruit’
, freshness, and the identity of our terroir, without using oak.

Being a winemaker also means knowing how to be patient

People sometimes think that wine is made solely during the harvest. Yet a large
part of its identity develops afterward.
A tasting today will not necessarily yield the same impressions in
a few weeks. Aromas evolve, the balance becomes more defined, and the tannins soften.
Our job is as much about intervening when necessary as it is about letting the wine
follow its natural course.
Time remains an indispensable partner.

Generous yields despite the weather conditions.

Winemaking techniques vary greatly depending on the grape variety and the desired characteristics.

And always the same commitment: to preserve the fruit and let the terroir speak for itself.

It is still too early to fully assess the 2026 vintage.

But the first vats are already beginning to show their character.

The story has only just begun.

Chardonnay at the Heart of Our Upcoming Experiences

October also provides an opportunity to continue preparing for a project that is particularly close to our hearts
: our experimental cellar dedicated to studying the evolution of a single
Chardonnay in different containers.
Jars, amphorae, egg-shaped vessels, glass globes, and stainless-steel barrels will be compared to a control wine stored
in a traditional epoxy-coated concrete tank.
The goal is simple: to understand how the same wine can evolve differently depending on its
environment, without seeking the aromatic influence of wood.
A project conceived at the estate to observe, compare, and share, with the first bottlings
scheduled for 2027.

From Pézenas to New Horizons

While the wines continue to age in the cellar, we are also preparing for
new international events.
In November, Domaine Daurion will head to Asia for several
professional events in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
This is an opportunity to introduce our wines, our philosophy, and the unique terroir of the Languedoc—
—shaped by its volcanic history.
Because behind every bottle that travels, there is first and foremost a land, a vintage, and
the men and women who work to bring out its best expression.

And in the vineyards, fall is setting in…

The leaves are slowly changing color. The vines are completing their cycle and beginning to
build up their reserves for winter.
After a particularly intense year and a harvest that began as early as August 11, the
landscape is returning to a different rhythm.
It’s a contrast we particularly love: calm is returning to the vineyards, while,
in the cellar, the 2026 vintage continues to take shape.

The harvest provided us with the raw material. October allows us to reveal its first signs of promise
. Time will do the rest.