Domaine Castéra, a passion for Jurançon

Jérome Peleyras | 7/21/24, 10:11 AM

Nestled in the heart of the Béarn region, Domaine Castéra is one of the new spearheads of the Jurançon appellation. Franck Lihour, a talented winegrower, acquired his winegrowing experience before returning to his native region.

" I'm starting my tenth vintage this year - time flies! "exclaims Franck Lihour, who took over from his parents Christian and Pierrette Lihour at the helm of Domaine Castéra in 2014. The family acquired the property in 1895, but the history of this estate in the Jurançon appellation dates back to 1743. The young winemaker first wanted to discover other wine-growing regions and countries before settling down: " I wanted to acquire a broad vision of the world of wine. So, after completing my BTS in viticulture and oenology, I went to Corsica, South Africa and Napa Valley. These experiences enriched me, and I came back to the domaine with my head full of ideas. "

Dry Jurançon has the wind in its sails

Jurançon is an appellation where mixed farming has been established for centuries: " Jurançon is a piedmont vineyard, with vines planted at the top of the slopes and other terroirs reserved for livestock or cereals. We've had the advantage of living with good farming sense for centuries and helping to maintain a sustainable ecosystem. "

Franck Lihour is part of a new generation of winemakers who know how to make the most of Jurançon's emblematic grape varieties, Petit and Gros Manseng, and their terroirs: " Our appellation is known for producing top-quality sweet wines, and we're proud of that, but we also create some very good dry wines. "Indeed, despite its small size - around 125 hectares - Jurançon has also made a name for itself among wine lovers thanks to some very fine dry wines: " Over the last five years, we've seen a qualitative evolution in our wines, coinciding with cleaner growing practices. It's also due to a shift in consumer trends away from sweet wines. For my part, I've focused on wines from purer terroirs with a stronger sense of identity. "

See this post on Instagram

A publication shared by Franck Lihour (@domainecastera)

On the menu of the Pré Catelan

Domaine Castéra is mainly distributed in France through a circuit of wine merchants and restaurateurs: " I've had experience as a wine merchant and I'm convinced that this is the best way to introduce wines like ours, which are not known to the general public. We need influencers like them. "Franck Lihour is also very proud to see some of his cuvées featured on fine gourmet tables: " You can find our cuvées just as easily at the Pré Catelan [the Parisian restaurant of chef Frédéric Anton, 19/20 and 5 Gault&Millau toques, editor's note] as in fine bistros. The most important thing is to help people discover our wines, and to bring them to life. For the record, I recently received an Instagram message from an American living in Los Angeles who fell in love with one of my cuvées and asked me where to find it. I get up every morning to receive this kind of feedback. "Domaine Castéra's wines grow year after year, and we can't wait to taste Franck Lihour's tenth vintage.

2023, a complicated vintage

When it's not drought or lack of water, it's disease that spoils the grapes, and that's the case with Jurançon. In Béarn, the 2023 vintage followed in the footsteps of 2022, with high rainfall (1600 ml) and the appearance of mildew in the vines. The appellation's average yield was 11 hl/ha in 2023, whereas it allows up to 60 hl/ha for dry Jurançons alone. Consequently, in view of the low volumes produced, Domaine Castéra decided to make a single blend of all its parcels. The 2023 vintage is nonetheless qualitative, with less acidity than usual. That's reassuring. But you'll have to hurry to find one.

These news might interest you

News & Events

Aube, a den of gastronomes

If you think of Champagne, do you think of the bubbles from the great houses of Reims or Épernay? And yet, further south, an intimate, winegrowing and gastronomic Champagne is available to gourmets with a fine nose.

News & Events

Follow the chenin

The king of the Loire grape varieties, also widespread in South Africa, "ch'nin", as the people of the Loire pronounce it, has the extraordinary ability to produce dry white wines as well as semi-dry, sweet, syrupy and even sparkling wines, commonly known as fines bulles. Complex and demanding, it is nonetheless endearing.

News & Events

What temperature should I serve my wine at?

If you break out the ice bucket at the slightest bottle of white and the reds never leave your kitchen, here's a simple guide to avoiding these wine temperature faux-pas.

Wines & Spirits

Top 10 wine bars in Bordeaux

To coincide with primeur week, we've put together a selection of great places to taste Bordeaux wines.

News & Events

Should we trust the medals on the bottles?

On a supermarket shelf, similar-looking bottles of wine are lined up at slightly contrasting prices. Without a salesperson, in a time-constrained food shopping area, a sticker placed like a jewel cuts through the act of purchasing. Gold, silver or bronze medals flash more brightly than a label that's not always easy to decipher. Award-winning wine, featured wine An award-winning wine is one that has been presented by the winery at one of the 127 competitions that award these precious badges (in 2024, according to the DGCCRF). The famous Concours Général Agricole, founded in 1870, the world's best Chardonnay or Sauvignon competitions, the Brittany or Mâcon wine competitions, the Millésime Bio challenge... There's an embarrassment of riches to choose from, with no limit on participation, but not without a heavy hand in the wallet. For each cuvée entered, you'll need to pay between 10 and 150 euros, depending on the competition, not including postage and packaging costs and the purchase of macaroons in the event of victory. Attractive spin-offs A potentially interesting calculation, given the commercial visibility these awards bring. In the year following the award, sales of the vintage tend to increase by between 20% and 40%. A boon for the estate, event organizers and supermarkets alike. All the more so as the medals are pouring in. In 2025, at the Concours Général Agricole, of the 12129 wines entered, 3361 were awarded medals, almost half of them gold. French legislation prohibits the awarding of more than a third of the samples presented. A quota with which most competitions flirt. Amateur jury Who awards these accolades? A volunteer jury, at their own expense. Mostly amateurs. The great need for people leaves little room for rigor or traceability. In 2025, at the Concours Général Agricole, over 7,000 people were needed to taste charcuterie, cheeses, jams and wines. At this year's Chardonnay du Monde competition, more than 300 jurors took part, with a limit of 20 samples per person. The most famous estates, which don't need to boost their sales, tend to neglect these competitions. Artisanal wineries, on the other hand, may shy away from these competitions as a matter of distinction, since the shiny stickers are associated with supermarkets. A place where it takes the place of good professional advice. A wine merchant, for example, capable of selling the uniqueness of a cuvée he has followed over the years.

News & Events

Fabrice Pouillon: his champagne method

Fabrice Pouillon is the third generation to run the family domaine at Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in the Marne region of France, and he has an intrinsic respect for the heritage he has inherited: respect for the vines and for fine work. Constantly questioning himself, curious and eager to experiment, the Champenois celebrates his 26th harvest this September.