The Co-operative was created in 1937 and the following year saw the production of the first 600,000 litres of mainly white wine. In less than 10 years the Cave tripled its output, and today it produces an average of 2,000,000 litres per 1,000 acres (representing 110 vineyards). The introduction of new varieties of grape, bearing the 'appellation contrôlée', brought about a substantial drop in the size of the grape harvest, but ensured a considerable improvement in the quality of the wine produced.


   

The Cellar has a total capacity of 3,000,000 litres and is fully-equipped to process the grapes at harvest time.
There are two reception platforms which are adapted to select the grapes by soil-type, by variety of grape and by the age of the vines.

This selection process is the result of much painstaking work on the part of the wine-producers, who also choose to impose additional production controls on themselves. Each plot of land is rigorously managed.
Grapes from the same sections of land can be processed separately, making it possible to have batches of wine which are more homogeneous, and more expressive in taste.


   

The wine-processing plant allows for a perfect control over the fermentation process.

Cabrières is one of few vineyards to produce equally good quality white, rosé and red wines.


The white wines, from the Clairette, Grenache white, Terret and Marsanne grapes, are produced after purification of the strained juice and a fermentation period of 20 to 25 days at low temperature (between 17 and 19 degrees Celsius).

The red wines are produced from the Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault varieties of grape. The fermentation period varies greatly, from 3 to 21 days according to the variety, at a temperature of between 25 and 33 degrees Celsius.

The rosé wines are obtained from the Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan and Syrah grapes. According to the variety, the grapes will soak for 4 to 36 hours. Fermentation temperature is between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius.

The 'Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée' (AOC) wines. :The vineyard around Cabrières, covering almost 1,000 acres, is classified as a zone 'Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée', producing the white wine "Clairette du Languedoc", and the red and rosé Coteaux du Languedoc "Cabrières".