The Craft

THE CRAFT

Open the gates of the vineyard : between history, technology, sustainability and expertise, discover Saint Thomas craft, from the land to the bottle.

DST - une footprint in time

Philosophy and commitment

Everything is born from a powerful statement: to create a place of conviviality, of reconnection to the land, and to pass on the devouring passion for wine, taste and simple things, yet so rare these days.

However, simplicity requires diligence and constant attention, especially in regards to the conversion to organic farming started in 2020.

Saint Thomas affirms then its desire for change and its ethical commitment, both for the quality of the wines and the preservation of the Roussillon terroirs, and for the well-being of the winemakers and their customers.

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High Environmental Value Level 3 Certification

This environmental certification is built on 4 pillars:

  • Biodiversity: all practices enhancing the preservation of biodiversity on the farm such as the establishment of shrub hedges, the practice of grassing, the multiplication of crops and species, agroforestry...

  • Irrigation: limitation and optimization of irrigation by cropping systems that require little water (drip)

  • Management of phytosanitary products: reduction of synthetic phytosanitary inputs in favor of natural and organic products such as copper, sulphur, clay, herbal teas, essential oils, etc...

  • Fertilization management: optimization of the use of fertilizers according to the needs of the plant while favoring organic fertilizers and amendments

Converting to organic farming since 2020

This European label ensures that all certified farms meet at least precise specifications depending on the type of crop.

Regarding the domain, we must ensure:

  • Not to use chemical weedkillers, synthetic phytosanitary products (non-natural) and chemical fertilizers in the vineyard

  • Restrict the use of oenological additives during vinification to a certain list

  • Maximum SO2 doses are reduced

An annual control of the practices, the state of the parcels and the analyzes of the wines is carried out to maintain the labeling.

It takes 3 years of plot conversion before obtaining the label; we are currently in the last year of conversion (first labeled vintage: 2023).

DST - a footprint in space

Between sea and mountains

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terroirs

Argelès-sur-Mer

In the plain of Argelès-sur-Mer, at 800 meters from the beaches and on the edge of the Tech, light, lively and fruity grape varieties are grown, such as Marselan, black grapes with supple and discreet tannins, or Colombard, grapes explosive white with unequaled tension.

Fluviosoils are soils derived from alluvium, materials deposited by a watercourse. They are made up of fine materials (clay, silt, sand) which may contain more or less coarse elements (pebbles, pebbles, blocks). Located in the current or former bed of rivers, they are often marked by the presence of an alluvial water table and are generally liable to flooding during floods.

Saline soils (salisoils) and sodic soils (sodisoils) develop in the presence of salt. This salt can sometimes be more important in particular conditions favoring the evaporation of water such as in certain estuaries, lakes and lagoons, or in dry and arid climates. Salisols are rich in soluble salts (chlorides, carbonates, sulphates, sodium, magnesium or calcium), the most common of which is sodium chloride (NaCl). They can thus present a high salinity generally linked to a marine input or to the alteration of certain rocks. Sodisols, on the other hand, contain very few soluble salts but still have a high amount of sodium (Na+).

EXPLORE SAINT THOMAS TERROIS WITH GOOGLE EARTH

COLLIOURE

It is by wandering on the terraces, stumbling over the shale, and getting lost in this maze of vines that we understand the exceptional terroir that Collioure offers us. A feeling of total plenitude overwhelms you when you reach our vineyard of Les Crêtes, 300 meters above sea level, whipped by the wind, bitten by the sun, surrounded by the Albères oak forest and turning around facing the Mediterranean.

Rankosols are thin soils (less than 30 cm thick), poorly differentiated, developed from non-calcareous rocks. These are therefore rather acidic soils. The rankosol horizons contain many coarse elements (gravel, pebbles, stones, etc.) resulting from the fragmentation or alteration of the underlying rock.

cabestany

Planted on the eroded terraces of old Roussillon rivers, the terroir of Cabestany, with clay-limestone, gravelly soil, rich in small rolled pebbles, is recognized for the quality of its fine and aromatic Muscats (Muscat de Rivesaltes), and of its ample and structured reds.

Brunisols are soils with relatively undifferentiated horizons (very similar textures and colors), moderately thick to thick (more than 35 cm thick). These soils are characterized by an intermediate horizon whose structure is clear (presence of aggregates or clods), marked by high porosity. Brunisols are non-calcareous soils. They come from the in situ alteration of the parent material which can be of very diverse nature.

Fersialsols are soils characterized by a reddish color. They were formed in Mediterranean or tropical climates. Their reddish color coming from the presence of iron crystals appeared during their formation processes. The horizon in contact with the rock is also more clayey, very well structured, with good exchange and retention capacity for water and nutrients. The parent material can come from many geological substrates, with the exception of marls.

DST - the key values

THE WINERY : expertise and modernity

Built in 2012, the winery was designed according to the three fundamental values ​​of Saint Thomas, necessary to the production of great wines.

1

Respect the integrity of the grape

Pneumatic press, harvest cooling chamber, stainless steel tanks with thermo-regulation, aging in amphorae and oak barrels… so many details that help to preserve the intrinsic qualities of each grape.

Limit our environmental impact

Very concerned about the consequences of our activity on the biodiversity, greenhouse gases or water pollution, we invest on different production segments in order to regulate our energy balance.

Production of green electricity: with its roof entirely covered with photovoltaic panels, our winery produces more electricity than it consumes, thanks to solar energy.

Reduction of water consumption: the production of one liter of wine requires up to 10 liters of water in the most extreme cases. Our winery has therefore been designed to facilitate cleaning and optimize hygiene throughout the production process. For example, the annealed stainless steel of our tanks, an antibacterial and extremely smooth material, minimizes our use of disinfectants and descaling products, by promoting the removal of scale plaques.

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3

Facilitate and secure the work of our employees

The associated risks to the profession of winegrower are numerous, and can be very serious. Thus, the health and safety of our team is a priority. Each year, we invest in new equipment adapted to everyone (electric secateurs, automated wine pumps, safety rails, etc.), so that working is never a constraint but a pleasure.

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