Clos de l’Anhel Backgrounder

Growing up in Languedoc, Sophie Guiradon learned about wine from her grandfather, a winebroker who traveled extensively through the local region to source the best selection. She developed a passion for viticulture and enrolled in enology school in Narbonne after highschool. She then spent many years consulting to Languedoc wineries before deciding to set out on her own. 

Sophie’s vineyard is in the rugged north-west section of Corbières, where she found that elevation, Mediterranean exposure and winds extend hang time and allow for a balanced style. The estate had been a vineyard and sheep pasture; Sophie built upon the history, keeping the head-trained Carignane vines (planted in 1905), and naming the winery after the small barn for the sheep (“anhel”) that is still on the property. 

Sophie seeks a pure and authentic style that reflects her land. She farms organically, harvests manually, ages in stainless and uses paper filtration. The wines are unfined and no C02 is added. Indeed, the wines fit a description many would define as “natural.” 

With this transparent winemaking approach, the wines reflect their hot Mediterranean climate and high elevation site, with opulent notes of lavender, rosemary, thyme and pepper; a juicy medium-full body and good cut.

As a successful female winemaker and entrepreneur, Sophie gives back to her community in numerous ways, including serving as a founding member of a women’s organization to mentor upcoming women winemakers.