The UBY Estate
The UBY estate has been cultivating vine on the hillsides of Gascony for over a century in the heart of a protected environment, where the last of Europeen Testudo (terrapins) are still to be found. The vineyard which stretches over a 100 ha of tawny silica, a specific soil of this area, has been entirely restructured in the past years with a majority of typical Côtes de Gascogne varieties. International varieties have been planted recently to complete the range. .The vineyard is now composed of :
25% Colombard
20% Gros Manseng
20% Ugni blanc
12% Sauvignon
8% Petit Manseng
7% Chardonnay
7% Red varieties (Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot)
Quality being the objective, planting density has been increased to obtain a wine that is better structured and whose fruity and floral aromas are more concentrated.
Moreover, the entire estate is now geared to sustainable cultivation practices and is controlled by VERITAS. The quality practices and the rigorous rules that have been set both for the work of the vine and for the vignification raised UBY among the most rewarded estates producing Côtes de Gascogne wines. A recognition from many official challenges that confirms the regularity of UBY’s quality year after year.
1.
A PASSION FOR WINE TRANSMITTED FATHER TO SON
In 1920 Louis and Jean François MOREL, sons of Swiss vine growers, arrive in the Gers and settle on a viticultural property. In 1956 Jean François acquires the UBY Estate with 12 ha of vines. His son Jean Charles takes over in 1962 and decides that UBY will concentrate principally on the vine. Very soon after the arrival of François, the grandson, in 1995, the estate comprises 100 ha of vines. The decision to launch the Estate-bottled wine range was taken in 2002. In 2007, 600 000 Domaine UBY bottles have been sold, mainly in France, but also in the north of Europe, in the USA and Canada. In 2008, a new range of fine oak barrelled wines has been launched to complete the easy drinking, fruity good price for quality UBY wines, so typical of our Gascony area
THE TERRAPINS
The UBY mere is one of the few protected areas left where the last of the European pond terrapins, an endangered species, live and reproduce. The UBY Estate has subscribed to the charter of protection for the Armagnac ponds through an agri-environmental contract. It undertakes to maintain a strip of grassland separating the mere from cultivated land, limit the use of fertilizers, and preserve a natural habitat around the mere conducive to the terrapins' survival. Wild vegetation and tall grasses suit their extremely discrete way of life. This commitment is in keeping with the approach chosen by UBY for the entire Estate: respect for the environment. The terrapin was the obvious choice as an emblem for UBY.
RESPECT FOR THE GRAPE
To harvest healthy grapes in full aromatic maturity independently of weather conditions is paramount for wine quality. It is our yearly challenge.
It all starts by taking care of the soil to ensure it a good structure. In addition to our sustainable protective practices, each plot is monitored and regular soil analyses are made. We sow grass between every other row and add organic matter frequently to guarantee the vine’s good heath. The maturing of the grape is optimised by the thinning out of leaves and the control of the yield. (We remove superfluous buds and harvest "en vert")
Ripeness controls allow us to determine the ideal date of harvesting for each variety and plot, and the most suitable vignification method to apply. We harvest at night and protect the grapes with carbonic ice to avoid oxidation. In the cellar, the grapes and the must are also protected up to fermentation to preserve the typicality of our wines.. Whole-fruit maceration, pneumatic pressing, low temperature fermentation and maturation on fine lees are the main steps of our vignification process to obtain crisp, well fruited, aromatic, UBY wines. UBY ONE range differs by a maturation period in oak casks from 2 to 11 months depending on the wine.
http://vins-cotes-gascogne.fr
http://wine.the-world-in-focus.com
Adres of Domaine UBY
SDU - Domaine UBY - 32150 Cazaubon
Tél 05 62 09 51 93 - Fax 05 62 09 568 94