Historic vineyard estate offers a perfect combination of holiday home and real estate investment
Defined by its vineyards and scented with rosemary and lavender, the Languedoc is a historic and unspoilt region of blue skies and dramatic landscapes lying along a 300-kilometre stretch of golden beaches between the Côte d’Azur and the Spanish border.
This is quintessential South of France – a landscape of rolling hills fringed with cypress, ancient forests of oak and chestnut. Famous vineyards and olive groves carpet the landscape from the hills to the blue shores of the Mediterranean. Quickly being discovered by holiday-makers and property buyers alike, the region enjoys a perfect climate, with more than 300 days of sunshine annually.
The Languedoc offers tremendous diversity: sandy beaches, wooded mountains, ancient market towns and thriving fishing villages, as well as vineyards of international renown. The region is a land of marvels. It overflows with natural and historical sites that range from medieval castles, caves, dolmens and Romanesque churches, to abbeys.
It boasts five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Carcassonne, known worldwide for its medieval fortified town, and the Canal du Midi, a major construction linking Toulouse to Sète, plus 13 villages featured on the list of Plus beaux villages de France (the most beautiful villages in France). These include Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Minerve and Olargues.
Le Domaine de la Mandoune, a beautifully restored 19th-century wine-growing estate, represents a rare opportunity to purchase an elegant vineyard apartment in this beautiful area of France. Combining authenticity, well-being, appreciation of heritage and refined luxury, Le Domaine de la Mandoune offers the very best of the Mediterranean lifestyle.
Sitting on a truly exceptional site, the domaine is only fve minutes from the beaches, and sits on the shores of the Étang de Thau, opening out onto the sea. Its eastern shore forms an 11-kilometre beach, with the Mediterranean on one side and the tranquil waters of the basin on the other, whilst the western shore is a hive of traditional activities such as fishing, shellfish farming and wine-growing.
In front of the property there is a park with 100-year-old trees featuring pines and other Mediterranean species. Alongside are vineyards, an olive grove and vegetable gardens. Around the estate, shoreline vegetation extends out of sight and includes reed beds, wild orchids and sea daffodils. Everywhere, the scent of pines, sea, thyme and rosemary blend tantalizingly.
The immediate locality offers delightful small ports like Mèze, Bouzigues and Marseillan. Marseillan is an ancient Phocaean town that charms visitors with its authenticity. It is one of Languedoc’s gems, once named “what St Tropez most probably looked like before Brigitte Bardot went there” by the The Guardian. The port of Marseillan is a Mediterranean hotspot for water sports, for those cruising on the Canal du Midi, and is notably home to a sailing school (Ecole de voile les Glénans).
There is so much to do in the area, from relaxing and sunbathing around the swimming pool or along the beach, to kite surfing with one of several sailing clubs. Sailing, rowing, water-skiing, hiking and cycling are all very popular.
Le Domaine de la Mandoune is 20 minutes from Pézenas, 25 minutes from Sète, 40 minutes from Montpellier, 50 minutes from Narbonne, and an hour from Nimes, Carcassonne and Perpignan. Easy to reach, with superb motorway and high-speed rail links, six international airports also connect the Languedoc to every major European city.
This superb development, with only 28 one-of-a-kind residences, is set in 45 acres of vineyards and Mediterranean countryside, including 300 metres of unspoilt natural beach. The domaine is made up of the original Château, mews and wine storehouse.
Each luxurious residence boasts period features that are integrated seamlessly into schemes that marry the traditional and the contemporary. The interior will combine modern décor – metallic stairway, unvarnished wood, fair-faced concrete – with the nobility of the past, including exposed stone and beams, floor boards and arched doorways. The result promises to be homes of style and refinement. Each apartment is unique.
The stylish 1-3 bedroom residences come fully furnished and equipped. Almost all of the apartments enjoy gardens, patios and/or balconies.
The world’s largest wine-producing region, wine-making in the Languedoc dates to Roman times. Today’s energetic generation of young winemakers makes great use of the varied terroirs to produce exciting and elegant wines that hold their own against the best of Bordeaux and the New World.
The centerpiece of this development will be the estate’s vineyard, which is made up of Grenache, Chenin, Merlot and Sauvignon grapes. The vineyard gives all residents the opportunity to follow the wine-growers throughout the seasons and participate in the harvesting, blending and various stages of wine-making. You can also invite friends to wine-tastings in the estate’s cellar, or picnic by the waterside. Why not pack a few oysters and shellfish to complement the wine of the estate?
With a host of first-class facilities and services, the luxury vineyard resort offers a unique opportunity to experience the authentic ‘Art de Vivre’ for which the South of France is so renowned. Amenities include a restaurant, wine bar, swimming pool, wellness centre, sun deck, tennis court, golfing area with putting green and practice holes, and a fitness trail where you can jog or walk in an outstanding natural environment between the vines, by the olive grove and along the waterfront. A floating dock enables the sailing schools to come and pick up those who would enjoy a ride in a sailing dinghy or a catamaran.
Residences are being sold fully furnished with a full management service in place to ensure you get the most from your investment. The award-winning developer specialises in luxury developments and the restoration of historical buildings, while preserving their heritage and tradition. The company has several times received the Bentley Award for best development project. One of its developments was recently listed by The Times as one of the ‘Top 20 vineyard hotels in the world’.
This leaseback property offers freehold ownership and rental income guaranteed by a 9-year commercial lease, as well as the VAT rebate and other fiscal benefits. There are several leaseback options available: from pure investment up to six months’ use per year. Owners will also benefit from discounts at other hotels and resorts managed by the company.
Le Domaine de la Mandoune represents a rare opportunity to purchase a unique, exceptional property in one of the world’s most stable economies – a sound property investment in the South of France and a source of pleasure for many generations to come.
Price: From €239,000 (excluding VAT).
