Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose Rouge

50% Cabernet, 50% Merlot – IGP Coteaux de Béziers

Bijou rouge has a medium bodied palate, combining intensity, depth and smooth tannins. Deep aromas of blackcurrant, blackberries and plum with warm notes of vanilla and spice lead to a long, lingering finish. A delicious wine, striking the balance between complexity and easy drinking.

The Legend of Sophie Valrose

Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose is named after a lady who worked in the Languedoc vineyards during the late 19th century and became something of a local hero. At the time, it was largely women who worked in the vineyards; pruning and harvesting the vines. Sadly these women were often mistreated, over-worked and under-paid. Sophie fought for women’s rights and drastically improved working conditions for her fellow women in the vineyard in which she worked. Bijou is a tribute to her memory and we share her story on the back of every bottle sold. Our red is made from grapes sourced from handpicked bush vines, alike those that Sophie would’ve harvested herself many years ago.

Viticulture and Vinification

Carefully selected parcels are de-stemmed and gently crushed on arrival at the winery. Thermovinification helps extract colour and tannins from the skins before indigenous yeasts commence fermentation in stainless steel vats, carried out between 20-25°C with micro-oxygenation. Traditional techniques used to extract optimum amount of flavour; pumping over and punching down twice a day.

The Cabernet and Merlot are vinified separately before being carefully blended together. The wine then spends time ageing in oak barrels to create the perfectly balanced wine.