Donnazac · 13 km
Mas d'Aurel
At Donnazac, on the Cordes plateau, an estate that went fully organic in 2021. Three generations of women, a view from 300 metres and summer evenings that make the mas a place to linger.
Mas d’Aurel is a family estate, founded in 1963 by Bernadette and Albert Ribot and passed down ever since through a line of women: their daughter Brigitte, then Clara Molinier, an oenologist, who took the reins in 2023. It sits at three hundred metres on the Cordes plateau, a few minutes from Cordes-sur-Ciel, on clay-limestone soils.
The big turn is organic: the conversion of all twenty-eight hectares was completed in 2021, making it a fully organic estate. It grows the Gaillac grapes — Braucol, Duras, Loin de l’Œil, Mauzac — rounded out by a few more international varieties, and offers the whole appellation range, down to the perlé, that house speciality with its fine bubbles.
It’s an estate built for welcome as much as for wine: guided tour-tastings, picnics among the vines, and above all the summer apéro-concerts that make it a place to spend the evening. One caveat: there’s no restaurant on site, the food limited to the concerts’ trucks and picnic baskets. For the rest — the organic farming, the view, the atmosphere — it’s an easy one to recommend.
Where to find the estate
13 km from Gaillac, on the heights of Donnazac.
- 1 Mas d'Aurel — 4047 route d'Arzac, 81170 Donnazac
Estate wines
3 wines, one signature
An easy-going red, black fruit, approachable.
A lively white, citrus notes.
A more ambitious red, Braucol and Merlot.
Friday apéro-concerts
Minty Crew
- Fri24 JULSweet Mood
- Fri07 AUGEstelle Canta
- Fri14 AUGRac & Nat le duo
- Fri21 AUGSweet Mood
Good to know
- Is the estate organic?
- Yes, fully organic: the conversion of every plot was completed in 2021. No biodynamics or HVE on top — it's organic, full stop.
- Who runs the estate today?
- Clara Molinier, an oenologist, third generation, who took the reins in 2023. The estate passes down a female line — Bernadette, then Brigitte, then Clara — since it was founded in 1963.
- What's the view like?
- The estate sits at 300 metres on the Cordes plateau, a few minutes from Cordes-sur-Ciel: a sweeping view over the vines and countryside. You can also picnic among the vines in summer.
- How do the apéro-concerts work?
- Five Friday evenings from mid-July to late August, 7:30 to 11:30pm: a band, food trucks and the estate's wine bar. It's free, but booking is required — capacity is limited. The line-up is below.
Visit the estate
Come taste on site
Shop Monday to Saturday, 9am–noon and 2–7pm; Sundays and public holidays by appointment. Guided tour-and-tasting (2h) by booking.
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Drink responsibly.