Château d'Oupia

The late André Iché was one of the first winemakers in the Languedoc to break from the local co-op, purchase his own bottling line, and focus on quality above quantity. The winery is now run by André’s daughter Marie-Pierre and winemaker Laurent Battle.

The Château d’Oupia, an old building of the 13th century is located in the heart of the Minervois. Purchased in 1860 by a great great grandfather to Marie-Pierre Iché. Château d’Oupia has continued to grow and invest in the vineyard and wine. Marie-Pierre´s father André Iché inherited the impressive 13th century castle and large estate. He expanded his vineyard holdings and vinified several cuvées of Minervois, the Cuvée des Barons and Nobilis, aged in oak barrels. He rebuilds a cellar, and contemplating buying and cleaning up some overgrown and steep terraces that have been abandoned since the late 19th century.
In 1969, André Iche becomes responsible for the exploitation and undertakes the renovation of the vineyard by incorporating new vines well adapted to the soil while preserving the oldest vines of Carignan. André planted his first Syrahs in 1975, opened a sales vault in 1980, in 1985 first time ageing in barrels with the wine ’Les Barons’. Part of the vineyard is located in La Caunette, vinification is done in Oupia. After studying Marie-Pierre joins her father in the production 1996 and since her father André passed away in 2007 she has been working with oenologist Laurent Batlle, who continues to make the wine -in his own words- ”André’s way.” The estate has 63 ha, distributed between AOC Minervois (37 ha) and Vin de Pays de l’Herault (26 ha).