T h e E s t a t e ’ s S t o r y

Our Story

I n t h e H e a r t o f M y s t i c a l M i n e r v o i s

Let us tell you the story of our vines, in the heart of Cathar Country, one of the oldest wine-growing regions in France. It is in this unique setting that the estate’s vines flourish, bearing witness to a heritage that has endured through the centuries.

Laissez-moi vous conter l’histoire d’un lieu d’exception, en plein Pays Cathare, l’une des plus anciennes régions viticoles de France.

Nous sommes ici sur un “territoire mystique”, dont l’histoire et les paysages exercent un envoûtement puissant. C’est dans ce cadre unique que s’épanouissent les vignes du domaine, témoins d’un héritage qui traverse les siècles.

Napoleonic Heritage

Imperial Roots

Legend has it that Napoleon himself was behind the creation of the estate in the heart of the Upper Minervois.

Although the details of his involvment remain discreet, this imperial connection roots the estate in a rich history and gives it a truly distinctive aura.

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According to rumors, Napoleon may have succumbed to the charms of an Irish widow, Marie Anne Coppinger, the widow of an Irishman named Lawless.

Although Napoleon’s own involvement cannot be proven, we do know that this widow had settled in the south of France following the Irish uprisings against the British Crown, which were supported by France.

She acquired the land around the Étang de Marseillette and its surroundings and drained the lake, which is better imagined as a kind of marsh. It is probably from this lady that Domaine St Antoine takes its name, like most of the other estates in the region.

When she took over the lands she had bought, she thought carefully about how to name each place. It is said that she, a devout Irish Catholic, asked everyone coming from one of these farms for their first name, and then gave the estate the name of their respective patron saint. This would at least explain why most of the properties in and around the dried-out lake bear saints’ names.

2011

Love at first sight

When Petra and Christoph Lehmann discovered this 27-hectare vineyard nestled in the heart of Minervois, the magic happened instantly.

This place in Occitanie captivated them: morning mists, Mediterranean vegetation, 2,000 years of wine-growing history, Cathar heritage, and its proximity to the Canal du Midi.

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When we took over the estate, it was, beyond a few promising beginnings, more of a project than an established vineyard.

We bought additional parcels to create a more complete range of products.

When we had the opportunity to acquire the building of an old winery in the small hamlet of St. Roch, 800 m from our estate, we took advantage of it to build a modern cellar within this historic setting. In this way, we were able to combine tradition and modernity in the wine aging process.

This new cellar was inaugurated in August 2019 and allows us to work with new techniques in a historic environment.

2019-2022

Organic conversion.

This transition is not just a technical choice — it is a philosophy. “A mystical terroir deserves respectful practices.”

Three years of patient work led to organic certification in August 2022.

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The transition to organic farming is a carefully considered cultivation choice that promotes biodiversity and environmental balance, allowing our vines to develop in the best possible conditions.

This conversion took place over three years thanks to a committed team that learned and adapted, resulting in a certification that honors our terroir.

Our wines have therefore been certified organic since the 2022 vintage.

Today

Our award-winning wines

Every year, we present our cuvées in international competitions such as Decanter, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, and Vinalies Internationales, as well as national competitions such as the Guide Hachette, the Concours Général Agricole, and Terre de Vins.

This is a mark of quality for our wine customers, and one that we are committed to continuing. These competitions help our cuvées cross borders and can lead customers to visit us on holiday staying in our gîtes at the heart of the estate.

From Berlin to Minervois, our dream keeps growing — and every bottle carries its trace.

O u r o r g a n i c c o m m i t m e n t s

Certified Organic Wines

Notre double certification Agriculture Biologique (2022) et HVE3 (2021) traduit notre engagement : produire des vins qui sont l’expression la plus pure de notre terroir mystique.

Depuis 2019, nous pratiquons une viticulture respectueuse : taille manuelle traditionnelle, vendanges sélectives, préservation de la biodiversité.

« Un terroir mystique mérite des pratiques respectueuses. » Cette philosophie guide chacune de nos actions, de la vigne au chai.

At Domaine Saint Antoine, respect for living things and the land is our philosophy.

Certification in Organic Agriculture is not an end in itself, but a rigorous framework serving a single goal: to obtain high-quality grapes to produce wines that are the purest expression of their terroir. This organic transition was an obvious choice, not a marketing decision.

“A mystical terroir deserves respectful practices.” Three years of patient work, learning, and adaptation led to a certification that honors our estate.

Today, 16% of wine estates in the Aude Département are certified organic or in conversion — we are proud to be part of this movement.

The Rebirth of a Terroir