Coume del Mas: the wines of Collioure and Banyuls, between mountains and the Mediterranean
Founded in 2001 by Philippe and Nathalie Gard, the Coume del Mas estate farms around 15 hectares of vines near Banyuls-sur-Mer, on the Côte Vermeille. On these steep slopes, where the mountains meet the Mediterranean, the rocky terraces call for exacting viticulture. The estate produces dry Collioure wines and naturally sweet Banyuls wines, with the same pursuit of balance, finesse and a sense of place.
A hillside vineyard shaped by handwork
At Coume del Mas, the terrain sets the pace of the work. Most plots are inaccessible to tractors, and some cannot even be reached by a plough horse. Pruning, vineyard maintenance and harvesting therefore rely almost entirely on manual work, carried out close to each vine.
The rocky soils and demanding climate naturally limit production: the estate reports yields of around 20 hectolitres per hectare. Its 35 plots each bring nuances to be considered when blending. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan are among the main grape varieties grown.
Collioure: seeking balance under the Mediterranean sun
In this warm, sunny vineyard, achieving good ripeness is not enough: the challenge is also to preserve freshness and keep power in check. Vineyard practices and winemaking choices are crucial to creating wines in which fruit, alcohol and, in the case of reds, tannins each find their rightful place.
Coume del Mas’s dry wines offer a way to explore the different expressions of Collioure. Find the white Folio and the red Schistes and Quadratur at Vinodelice: three cuvées that showcase the estate’s work with this distinctive terroir.
Banyuls: understanding naturally sweet wines
Coume del Mas also produces Banyuls wines, from a historic appellation recognised as early as 1936. Unlike the dry wines of Collioure, naturally sweet wines are made by mutage: adding grape spirit during fermentation halts the action of the yeast and preserves some of the sugars naturally present in the grapes.
Tasting then depends on the balance between sweetness, freshness, aromatic richness and alcohol. The Galatéo cuvée, available from Vinodelice in a 50 cl bottle, offers a taste of this other side of the estate.
Discover Coume del Mas cuvées at Vinodelice
Our selection brings together five wines: Folio, Schistes, Quadratur, Galatéo and Ad Astra Dog Strangler. From dry wines to naturally sweet wines, discover the world of Philippe and Nathalie Gard and an approach to wine deeply rooted in the landscapes of the Côte Vermeille.
