Sichel estate protected by French ministry

Maison Sichel’s partner property in south west France, Domaine de Pellehaut, has become one of only 200 agricultural properties in France to attain the highest level of environmental protection.

Sichel’s partner property Domaine de Pellehaut

The property has gained level 3 HVE certification HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale), awarded to agricultural producers by the French Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to promote and guarantee environmentally-friendly farming practices.

Of the 500,000 agricultural properties in France today, 7,000 now have HVE environmental status, but only 200 have the highest level 3 certification.

Farmers and winegrowers with HVE 3 certification are obliged to produce products that are considerate of biodiversity, use of plant protection products, fertilisation and water management.

Martin and Mathieu Béraut look after the 300 year-old family property, which began by producing a range of Armagnacs and breeding Blondes d’Aquitaine cattle.

The Armagnacs and the cattle are still part of the estate, but Pellehaut’s reputation is now established as a Côtes de Gascogne’s wine producers, producing white, rosé and red wines from south west France.

Its vineyard covers 180 hectares and cultivates Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Gros Manseng, Folle Blanche, Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Merlot and Syrah.

“Domaine de Pellehaut has been committed to environmentally-friendly viticulture for many years”, said Charles Sichel of Maison Sichel. “It’s now gone one step further, confirming its position as a modern, model, family producer, conscious of its rich environmental heritage and willing to engage in the very best methods to protect this.”