Michaël Georget - Le Temps Retrouvé

Michaël Georget’s domaine is situated in Laroque des Albères in the “blue mountains of piedmont” as the slopes around Banyuls and Port Vendres are called.

Michaël is originally from Chinon and at the age of 15 started to work with a nearby winemaker and quickly grew an interest in biodynamic agriculture. He decided to increase his knowledge and traveled around France learning from people who were using biodynamic practices. In 2009, he decided to settle in Pyrénées-Orientales to help the conversion of a 65-hectare Domaine in Montesquieu des Albères .

He really struggled to find his own vineyards but by chance discovered the family-run domaine of Mas Rancoure in Laroque des Albères. The winemaker tragically died in the mid-90s and since then time had stopped in the winery. All the domaine’s young vineyards had been pulled up; only a few parcels of older vines remained. In 2012 Michaël took control of the vines and the winery.

The vineyard is one parcel of 4.5ha on 2/3 terraces; 3.5ha are 100-year-old Carignan but unfortunately, many of the vines are missing as rows have been pulled up in the past to facilitate mechanization. On the top terrace is the Macabeu (some are 40 years old), Grenache Gris, Blanc & Noir (all about 90 years old). The soil is mainly clay and sand with some mica, quartz, and gneiss.

Michaël has a couple of horses to work in his vineyard (Goliath & Paco). He also has beehives all around the vines and he believes “bees are companions to the vines”. He uses the tractor 4 times a year mainly to treat the vines or while harvesting to transport the fruits.

In 2016 Michaël embarked on a project to reclaim the overgrown land around his house in the hills above Laroque. Here at higher altitudes what were vineyards had been abandoned and the forest had taken over. Once cleared Michael is going to replant with vines and set up shop with amazing views of the Mediterranean.