Patrick GERMAIN creator of Chateau Bellevue La Forêt

HATEAU BELLEVUE LA FORÉT
A work signed Patrick GERMAIN
Continued with the help of his daughter Diane

Patrick GERMAIN's ancestors were Burgundian winegrowers at the beginning of the 19th century. His great-great grandfather then moved his winemaking skills to Algeria in 1840 where for five generations the GERMAIN family continued its winegrowing vocation in North Africa. Thus, is as a worthy successor to a family of true pioneers that Patrick GERMAIN took his turn at the reins. After having left Algeria in 1963, he is obliged to abandon Morocco in 1973 return to France. Passionate about wine growing and infused with his acquired family knowledge, he preferred to create his own wine estate rather than takeover an existing one.
This brought about the birth of CHATEAU BELLEVUE LA FORÊT in 1974. By marvelous coincidence, the " Côtes du Frontonnais " had just been granted the label A.O.C. (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée), a sign that Patrick GERMAIN found particularly promising. This A.O.C has the potential to achieve first class status and at CHATEAU BELLEVUE LA FORÉT, with its excellent soils and most favourable sunlight, Patrick GERMAIN is determined to bring out the best quality in this emerging appellation.

Patrick GERMAIN buckles down to work and undertakes to keep the promises that he made to himself. Christmas 1990; Diane GERMAIN informs her father that she would like to join the company.
A diploma from Northeastern University in Boston followed by two years of work experience in the United States revealed her determined nature and her keen sense of logic. While being equally precise and gifted with a sense of human perception, invaluable in this domain, Diane takes over the business of French and export sales, leaving her father to concentrate on other tasks. They are supported by a trusted team, the majority of whom have been at BELLEVUE LA FORÊT since its creation.

 The Chateau
Chateau Bellevue La Forêt's Rose Garden

Today, the 112 ha ( 268 acre ) BELLEVUE LA FORÊT is the largest single family-owned wine estate in the emerging Southwest of France. The wines are regularly awarded medals in competitions worldwide and are gaining a wide array of loyal consumers. The wines are sold in retail wine shops and restaurants in France. Through the family's efforts and the interest of international consumers, the wine is now exported to 20 countries, including Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Usa, Belgium, England, Japan. The combination of excellent terroir and the passion of the GERMAIN family has resulted in a serious and consistent wine that is synonymous with success.

HATEAU BELLEVUE LA FORÊT now has the right to be included in the category of wine "best value for money", recognised throughout the whole world.
A single estate vineyard of 112 hectares ( 268 acre ) classified A.O.C., situated at the upper levels of the highest terrace of the "Côtes du Frontonnais", it is made up of siliceous-clay, gravelly soil descended from the quaternary era of the Tarn.




Vinification cellar
Négrette 53%, Cabernet Franc 16%, Cabernet Sauvignon 11%, Syrah 14%, Gamay 6%.

vinification cellar






Trellised vines, single Guyot pruning. Density : 4,900 vines/hectare. The whole vineyard is grassed (i.e. the soil is not cultivated, nor are herbicides used, leaving grass to grow between the vine rows.)

  • A capacity of 22,000 hectolitres equipped with a cold room (partial processing of the wines through chilling). Thermoregulated fermentation vats. State-of-the-art equipment for the micro-oxygenation of the red wines. Kiesselghur filter. Lenticular filter. Plate filter. Cap punch device. Pneumatic 80 hls press.
  • 325m2 underground cellar for the ageing wines in oak-barrel.
  • Bottling and packaging chain with a capacity of 2,400 bottles per hour.
  • A purification area of 1000 m³ was installed in order to treat the cellar effluents, in line with the environemental regulations.