Domaine Zigzag
Domaine Zigzag is a new estate in Félines-Minervois, set up by Harriet and Henry Churchill, who had begun their winemaking career in Australia, in the Macedon Ranges, about an hour north of Melbourne. Back in the Languedoc they looked for vineyards with altitude, and that is what they have found, Mourvèdre and Syrah at 420 metres in the hills of the Minervois, as well as some Carignan, Grenache and Cinsault around the village of Félines, and also nearby Camplong and Cassagnoles. They have a total of 5.3 hectares, in eight different plots, including a walled vineyard of 80 year old Carignan in Félines. Sadly it produced no grapes in 2026. They are farming organically, and considering biodynamic soil treatments as well as reducing the tillage and using cover crops. Their first vintage in the Languedoc was 2023.
Their wine estate in Australia was also called Zigzag, an image that conveys the twists and turns of life. Wine making was a career change for them both and they have learnt their wine making very much on the job, without any particular training.
We sat in their little walled garden and tasted under the shade of a lime tree.
A little colour. Ripe fruit. Textured. Good weight. A joli amer or light bitterness on the finish. They used porous clay eggs for fermenting 20% of the Marsanne, and left the wine on fine fluffy lees in a stainless steel tank. A refreshing 11.8%
Considering their situation, they observed "A winemaker’s dream; an accountant’s nightmare". Maybe they will buy some organic fruit, that is readily available to develop a négociant business with some of the local organic farmers, and increase their production and cashflow that way. It makes you realise just how challenging it is to set up a wine estate without any serious financial backing. In Australia they worked in sustainable agriculture, but in an advisory role, rather than in the field, so to speak, and then they worked on a wine estate in Coonawarra, for couple of vintages, before finding vineyard land near Melbourne, and making their own wine in Australia for six years.
2024 Zigzageuse, Vin de France - 12.00€
60% Syrah, 40% Marsanne. Very light red. Dry red fruit, lightly leathery and savoury.
The Syrah goes into 400 litre oak barrels. The Marsanne lifts the aromatics. You apparently can blend red and white wine for a Vin de France: I learnt a new term blouge, to describe just that, a blend of red and white wine. The Marsanne was blended just before bottling and simply disappears into the Syrah.
The taste was quite intriguing. And the wine would certainly benefit from being served cool and fresh on a summer’s day.
2024 Baroudeur, Vin de France - 23.00€
A term for an adventurer or a pioneer, which is how Harriet and Henry see themselves. One third Grenache to two thirds Carignan in clay amphora as well as 20% in old oak, 5 year old 300 litre barrels. Deep red colour. Rounded ripe red fruit. Some spice. Quite firm structure with a tannic streak. Youthful potential.
2023 Baroudeur
80% Syrah to 20% Carignan. Perfumed Grenache fruit. Ripe and supple, and quite juicy with a fresh finish.
2025 la Pirouette, Vin Mousseux, Vin de France.
Pet Nat from Marsanne, Syrah and Grenache, fermented dry. 7%
They froze the must and filtered it to remove 5% of the alcohol by reverse osmosis. A positive pink colour and nicely frothy. Dry fresh acidity. Fresh red fruit, with a firm finish. They made just 3000 bottles, and have yet to decide the price, between 12 - 16€
2025 was not a good harvest for them and this represents their total production in 2025. Things were looking better for 2026, when we met shortly before the harvest.
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