Chateau Bellevue La Foret

Chateau Bellevue La Foret - Vineyards with centuries of tradition

North of Toulouse is the Fronton appellation, where the Negrette is the most important red grape. In this appellation lies the picturesque Bellevue La Forêt vineyard, with an impressive 112 hectares of vines.

In 1122 AD, the vineyards of Chateau Bellevue La Foret are already mentioned in a Latin parchment describing the donation of Fronton to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. Villaudric was founded in the "Customer of Villaudric of 1470", which probably took the old document from the 12th century. Louis XIII also appreciated the wine from Toulouse during his travels in Fronton in 1632, which led to the consumption of many barrels. 

In the southwest of France, north of Toulouse, there is now a wine region of 2,400 hectares: Fronton, classified as A.O.C. 1975 Production of red wine (75%) and rosé (25%) mainly from a local grape called "Négrette", of which at least 50% must be grown.

In May 2008, financial manager Philip Grant bought the winery Chateau Bellevue La Foret, fulfilling a long-held dream.

"I have always enjoyed the wines of CHATEAU BELLEVUE LA FORÊT and have been impressed by the number of awards they have received over the years. Today, I am proud to continue the tradition and focus all our resources to produce excellent wines that are recognized by the most demanding customers and wine lovers."

Today, the 112 ha estate is the largest privately owned winery in the emerging southwest of France. The wines regularly win medals at competitions around the world and have won a wide circle of loyal consumers.  Chateau Bellevue La Foret wines are sold in wine shops and restaurants throughout France and exported to more than twenty countries including Canada, USA, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Japan, Ireland, UK and Central Europe. China and the Far East are now emerging as new and exciting markets for the products.

The grape varieties at Bellevue La Foret

Négrette is the best known and most important grape variety in the Fronton appellation. Négrette has its origins in Gaillac and certainly dates back to the creation of vineyards more than 2,000 years ago. Then this grape gradually moved to the Fronton region. Today, Négrette is the main grape variety of Fronton. Négrette is often compared to other varieties such as Pinot, Mouvedre, Cot (Malbec).

Négrette characteristics 

- The stock is relatively vigorous; the trunk is strongly erect and well spread.
- The bud is quite large, wadding, white with a crimson edge.
- Young leaves are downy inside and usually yellowish.
- Adult leaves are medium sized, dark green, somewhat coarse. The main branch is slightly twisted; the underside slightly fuzzy.
- Branches are green and streaked with brown.
- The stems are long, robust and ribbed on the surface. The merithalles of medium length around 10 cm.
- The clusters are small and fine-grained. The stem is short, durable and herbaceous.
- Where the clones are erect, the cluster is cylindrical and forms a wing when spreading.
- The individual racemes are small, black and elliptical. The pedicels are short. The pulp yields an abundant lightly colored juice.

Négrette is a second generation grape, quite early ripening (harvested in mid-September) and late developing. This late development is useful as late spring frosts occur.

Négrette is thus characterized by a somewhat short vegetative cycle and strong foliar growth. It produces a colourful wine with medium tannins and weak acidity.

Vineyard distribution

More than half of the vineyard area of Chateau Bellevue La Foret is planted with Négrette. The grape varieties are distributed as follows:

• Négrette: 57 ha
• Cabernet Franc: 6 ha
• Syrah: 16 ha
• Cabernet Sauvignon: 12,5 ha
• Gamay: 7 ha
• White grapes (Viognier, Roussane, Petit Manseng): 2.3 ha