List of products by brand ABBAYE SYLVA PLANA

Based in Laurens, Hérault, Abbaye Sylva Plana farms 54 hectares under organic certification across schist, clay-limestone and grey marble soils, producing AOC Languedoc reds, whites and rosés. Founded in 1139 by Cistercian monks, the estate was taken over in 1998 by Henry-Ferdinand Bouchard and his son Nicolas, who completed organic certification in 2008. Yields are deliberately held to 35 hl/ha across south-facing, contour-planted vineyards, with varieties spanning Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Roussanne and Vermentino. At Halles Quercamps, we have selected this estate for the coherence of its viticultural project, the remarkable depth of its terroirs and the consistent rigour of its organic winemaking. A benchmark address in Languedoc-Roussillon.

At the heart of Languedoc-Roussillon, Abbaye Sylva Plana represents nearly nine centuries of continuous viticulture at Laurens, in the Hérault. Taken over in 1998 by the Bouchard family and farmed organically since 2008, this estate produces reds, whites and rosés of real character across 54 hectares of exceptional Languedoc terroir.

A Cistercian abbey turned wine estate

The story begins in 1139, when Cistercian monks founded the abbey under the abbacy of Desiderius. For centuries, the monks cultivated these slopes with the discipline and patience that define the Cistercian tradition — a tradition that placed the careful reading of terroir at the very heart of viticulture. The abbey's viticultural vocation was thus established long before the modern appellation system, rooted in a deep understanding of the land at Laurens.

In 1998, Henry-Ferdinand Bouchard and his son Nicolas took over the estate, bringing fresh ambition and a clear commitment to quality. Recognising the extraordinary potential of the soils and exposures inherited from the monks, they set about restoring and developing the vineyards with rigour. The conversion to organic farming was completed and certified in 2008, a logical extension of the estate's long-standing respect for its environment.

Terroir: schist, clay-limestone and grey marble

Abbaye Sylva Plana's 54 hectares are planted across a mosaic of soils — schist, clay-limestone and grey marble — that give each parcel its own distinct character. The vineyards face due south and are planted along contour lines, maximising sun exposure while managing water stress naturally. This combination of geological diversity and careful site selection is central to the estate's identity within the Languedoc appellation.

The grape variety palette is deliberately broad: Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Cinsault for the reds and rosés; Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Vermentino and Viognier for the whites. This diversity allows the estate to express the full range of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, from structured, age-worthy reds to aromatic, textured whites.

Organic viticulture and controlled yields

Certified organic since 2008, the estate works without synthetic herbicides, pesticides or fertilisers. Yields are deliberately contained at 35 hl/ha — well below the appellation maximum — concentrating flavour and preserving the mineral signature of each soil type. This restraint, combined with careful élevage in the cellar, produces wines of genuine precision and a clear sense of place.

The wine range at Abbaye Sylva Plana

The estate produces across all three colours under the AOC Languedoc appellation, with a range built on the diversity of its soils and varieties:

Reds: structured, terroir-driven wines led by Syrah and Grenache, with depth from old-vine Carignan and Mourvèdre — suited to the cellar as much as the table.
Whites: aromatic and textured, blending Roussanne, Vermentino and Viognier — a refreshing expression of the Languedoc's capacity for serious white wine.
Rosés: dry, precise and food-friendly, reflecting the estate's south-facing exposures and organic approach.

Why we have selected Abbaye Sylva Plana

At Halles Quercamps, we have listed Abbaye Sylva Plana for three reasons that matter to us as a family merchant. First, the historical depth of this estate is genuinely rare: few producers in the Languedoc can trace their viticultural roots to 1139, and that continuity of place is reflected in the wines. Second, the Bouchard family's commitment to organic farming is not a marketing position — it is a long-standing, certified practice backed by real discipline in the vineyard and the cellar. Third, the quality-to-value ratio across the range is consistently strong, making these wines as relevant to the cellar as to the dinner table.

We particularly recommend the estate's reds to lovers of the southern Rhône and Languedoc-Roussillon who appreciate structure and minerality. At table, they pair beautifully with lamb slow-roasted with herbs, or a well-aged hard cheese. The whites are equally at home alongside grilled fish or a richer poultry dish.