Winemaker Spotlight: Jeanne Fabre
Leading a new generation of organic winemaking
When Jeanne Fabre returned to her family's wine estate in 2016, she brought with her something more valuable than winemaking credentials—she brought perspective. After years of traveling the world and working in communication, human resources, education, and tourism, Jeanne chose to return to the Languedoc region that had nurtured 14 generations of her family before her. As she explains, leaving first was essential: it transformed what could have been the burden of inheritance into a free choice fueled by creativity and motivation.
A Legacy Rooted in the Soil
The Fabre family's relationship with viticulture stretches back to 1605, when records show their ancestor Jaume Fabre first cultivated vineyards in the Corbières region. In 1711, they settled permanently in Gasparets, near Narbonne, where they would build what has become a portfolio of five distinct estates. Today, Jeanne works alongside her father Louis—who took over the family concern in 1982—her sister Clémence (who handles export sales), and her cousin Paule (who manages accounting and administration). Jeanne has become the architect of wine tourism at Château de Luc, the family's stronghold in the heart of Cathar country, where she welcomes visitors from around the world.
Domaine de la Grande Courtade and l'Instant
The wine we're pouring by the glass—Famille Fabre's l'Instant from Domaine de la Grande Courtade—comes from one of the family's most distinctive properties. Located in the heart of Béziers, Grande Courtade sits in a natural amphitheater where olive trees and vineyards cascade down sun-drenched slopes. The estate features rare soil composition that creates three distinct terroirs on a single property: clay bottom for mineral whites, silty sand for rosés, and upper plots with southern exposure for reds. The l'Instant collection—available in blanc, rosé, and rouge—captures freshness and immediacy, a challenge in the heat of southern France. The winery still uses vats built by Fabre ancestors centuries ago, a beautiful marriage of heritage and modern organic practices.
A Voice for Organic Viticulture
While her role at the family estate would be significant enough, Jeanne has taken on an even larger platform as President of Millésime Bio, the world's largest trade fair dedicated to organic wines. This annual event in Montpellier attracts exhibitors from around 20 countries and draws thousands of professional visitors—importers, merchants, and sommeliers seeking the future of sustainable viticulture. Her leadership underscores both her personal commitment and her family's long-standing dedication to organic practices. The Fabre family converted to organic viticulture in 1991, before it was trendy or widely understood. Today, 100% of the family's vineyards across all five estates are certified organic.
Confronting Climate Reality
Jeanne doesn't shy away from discussing the existential challenges facing her generation of winemakers. She speaks bluntly about climate change, noting that in the region between Carcassonne and Narbonne, it essentially stopped raining three years ago. Yet rather than viewing organic viticulture as an added burden in difficult times, Jeanne argues it's precisely the solution the industry needs. She points out that organic wines have proven more resilient during economic downturns, supported by dedicated consumers who value the practice.
An Invitation to Taste History
When you order a glass of Famille Fabre's l'Instant from Domaine de la Grande Courtade, you're tasting more than a well-made organic wine. You're connecting with a family that has tended these soils for over four centuries, that chose organic viticulture three decades before it became fashionable, and that's now led by a woman who brings global perspective to local tradition. You're supporting a vision of winemaking that prioritizes the health of the land for future generations—a commitment that represents not just the future of wine but the only way forward.