Ekaterina de Cazenoves - Domaine de Cassagnas

September 28, 2023 - Featured Winemaker - No comment

Ekaterina de Cazenove - Domaine de Cassagnas, from Moldova to Languedoc

Saint-Julien de Cassagnas, Languedoc, IGP Cévennes

The Domaine de Cassagnas is located at the gateway to the Cévennes, north of Nîmes. Founded in 2021 by Ekaterina de Cazenove, the estate was born out of her strong desire to recreate the ambiance of "vineyard gardens" that reminded her of her childhood in Moldova.

Moldovan Wanderings

Nestled between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova, a petite nation, thrives on its primary production—wine. While a significant portion of the country's wines and "cognacs" finds its way to the Russian market, Moldovans have steadfastly preserved vineyards cultivated in time-honored traditions for their personal enjoyment.

It is within this historical mosaic and idyllic backdrop that Ekaterina's childhood unfolded. "My mother was adamant about me working in the wine industry," the young woman explains. Her educational journey led her to Muscadet, where she honed her French language skills. Armed with a master's in business, a degree in agri-food engineering, and a Moldovan oenology diploma, she amassed a wealth of qualifications. Initially poised to establish a dairy products brand in Russia, she could have pursued a career in agro-industry, but the ravages of war altered her course. Repatriated at the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, she rediscovered her true passion: the vineyard.

The Cévennes: Dilemma of Paradise

Meanwhile, she encountered her future husband. The in-laws were on the lookout for a successor for their sprawling 70 hectares of wheat and alfalfa-covered land to be passed on in the tucked-away realm of Saint-Julien-de-Cassagnas, nestled in the heart of Gard. These fertile acres would soon become the domain of Ekaterina and her partner. He is currently cultivating a project devoted to organic aromatic plant production while realizing her dream of establishing a vineyard. As a symbolic marker of their journey, the small family takes residence in the village's train station—a terminus marking both an end and the commencement of a new life.

Yet, the initial steps are anything but straightforward. Alongside the leased vineyards she inherited, she ambitiously plants 8 hectares of vines in two phases, complemented by an additional hectare of trees. However, the fateful year of 2022 brought a devastating drought that annihilates 70% of the nascent plants. This is also the year her daughter is born, facing health challenges. Simultaneously, she endeavors to bring her mother, teetering on the brink of war, to no avail. The 2022 harvest, Ekaterina's inaugural solo venture, proves to be demanding, with yields bearing the brunt of the unrelenting drought.

"Amidst the challenges, by autumn, I contemplated selling all my equipment. Yet, encounters with fellow vintners breathed new life into my resolve. This spirit of mutual support became the anchor that kept me afloat."