You'll find the Domaine de l'Hortus in a valley at the heart of the wild garrigue some 30 kms to the north of Montpellier. The Pic Saint Loup legend was born here. Nestling at the heart of the terroir, the limestone scree covered craggy slopes of the Pic Saint Loup and the Hortus plateau have, over the centuries, evolved to form today's complex geology and protect the land from turbulent climatic variations.The property thrives in this remarkable environment. It's a unique terroir, the emblem for the Appellation and the country, where man has lived since time began. The Orliac family made their home here, devoting passion, knowledge and patience to their sole ambition : to bring this corner of paradise to life whilst creating one of the Languedoc's best wines.

The red vines are mostly planted on hillsides: Syrah is to be found to the north in the shade of the Pic Saint Loup where it benefits from cooler, more humid weather which suits its shorter growth cycle. On the south facing Hortus slopes thrives the Mourvèdre, a later ripening grape with a longer growth cycle which needs strong sun to reach full maturity. The Grenache grapes, which require more general exposure, grow lower on the hillsides.

Cooler land parcels for the white vines are mostly to be found lower down in the valley where the air can be quite cold, especially during spring mornings; this means a slower growth cycle resulting in better acidity in the grapes without affecting their phenolic maturity.