HISTORY

The domaine covers 200 hectares and is located in the Mosson Valley, 15 kilometres to the north of Montpellier. The small vineyard accounts for only 10% of the surface area, spreading along the unique loess soils on the banks of the Mosson River.

Montlobre is an old settlement with a history of more than 300 years. In the 19th century – in 1850 to be precise – the buildings of Montlobre underwent drastic rebuilding for use as a “Colonie”, a home for orphans and homeless children from the Montpellier area.
For more than 35 years, more than 200 children aged from six to eighteen lived here.

At Montlobre, they were given training – that was quite harsh by present-day standards – in wine-growing and agriculture. The park with exotic old trees, a number of reclaimed areas for the vineyards and the old chapel now bear silent witness to those times. As a tribute to the children who helped with the reclamation of the vineyards, the picture of the girl with the hoop was added to the Montlobre label in 2000. This picture can also be found in the stained-glass "rosette" over the entrance to the chapel of the domaine.

The cellars of Montlobre were designed by one of the pupils of Ledoux, the celebrated architect of Louis XIV. The architectural style can be recognised by the pillars supporting the roof and the characteristic details in the headstones in the cellar.
These typical Ledoux features can be seen on the Montlobre capsules and boxes.

The Montlobre valley, which has its own microclimate, adjoins the Domaine de la Jasse, the vineyard acquired by Hans Walraven in 1998.
The buildings of Montlobre had not been used for more than one hundred years. They were renovated recently, retaining the original character.