Dream of owning a vineyard? Meet the couple who made it a reality - and how you could too
Discover the story of the British family behind the award-winning Domaine Begude - now on the market for the first time in decades
When James and Catherine Kinglake decided in 2003 to trade in their lives in London and career in finance to run a vineyard in southern France, they knew it would be an adventure - but they didn鈥檛 yet know how truly transformative it would be. 鈥淲e were looking for a complete change.
We鈥檇 been trying for a baby for 10 years, and it wasn鈥檛 happening. Three weeks after purchasing Domaine Begude I got pregnant - so we got everything in one go,鈥� says Catherine. 鈥淚t was a very happy departure.鈥�
Limoux, Occitanie.
Vineyard, 177.92 acres
An award-winning organic vineyard in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Building a successful winery business
Before embarking on their journey, they obtained viticulture qualifications from Plumpton College. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 fair to say we learned more on day one at the vineyard than I could from a course,鈥� adds James. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been very fortunate to have had a really good team, headed by Laurent Girault who has been with us from the beginning and knows every row of the vineyard inside out.鈥�
The couple quickly turned around the fortunes of Domaine Begude, which is now on the market for the first time in more than two decades. The estate spans 72 hectares, of which 26.5 hectares are currently planted with vines, up from the 22 hectares when the Kinglakes first purchased the land.
Profitable since 2006, it now has an annual production of 100,000 bottles. Its award-winning range of eight organic wines - five white and three red - are distributed to well-regarded importers and wholesalers across the UK, Europe, the USA, Asia and Australasia. “A real highlight is when wine critic Jancis Robinson chose one of our wines for her daughter’s wedding,” shares Catherine.
Why the Limoux region is a winemaking hub
Located close to the Pyrenees in the Languedoc area of southern France, and just south of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Carcassonne, Domaine Begude鈥檚 position offers both culture and excellent conditions for cultivating world-class wines. 鈥淭hey say great views make great wines - we鈥檝e certainly found that to be true,鈥� says Catherine.
Alexander Hall, 糖心传媒鈥檚 , notes that Domaine Begude鈥檚 elevated position provides ideal conditions for producing fresh, vibrant wines. 鈥淚t is cooler than some other areas of southern France, meaning it鈥檚 less affected by climate change and excessive heat. It also has big day-night shifts in temperature, which is very important for grapes in terms of preserving freshness and aromatics.鈥�
The growing popularity of white wine
Domaine Begude has been certified organic by Ecocert since 2010, with zero synthetic fertilisers, chemicals or pesticides used. 鈥淲e have amazing wildlife on the estate, so it was important to us from an environmental point of view,鈥� says Catherine. 鈥淏ut there are also the health implications of non-organic wines. We鈥檙e seeing a flight to quality, which consumers are willing to pay a premium for. So it makes sense from a business perspective, but it feels right with our hearts too.鈥�
The winery focuses on single varietal wines, with around half of its production Chardonnay. Alex notes a consumer shift away from heavy reds to the fresher white alternatives that the Limoux region is renowned for. “We’ve had the boom in rosé - now white wine sales are on the rise,” he explains. For the Kinglakes, it has played a key role in building the business. “At the start I don’t think we realised how lucky we were that having predominantly white wines is better from a cash-flow perspective,” says James.
The size of Domaine Begude, too, has its benefits. “While it’s not a very large vineyard in relative terms, its scale makes it easier to manage while still producing quantities of wine that can be successfully sold into multiple markets,” says Alex. He highlights several ways that potential purchasers could expand the business, including developing sparkling wine (known locally as Crémant) or becoming a ‘negociant’ to increase volumes through the purchase of grapes from other producers.
Continuing a legacy
A further commercial opportunity is enhancing the estate鈥檚 hospitality offering, taking advantage of its setting in beautiful countryside that is both unspoilt yet well connected, with international flights from nearby airports in Carcassonne and Toulouse. 鈥淭he culinary scene here is amazing - from Michelin-starred restaurants to enjoying a relaxed 鈧�15 鈥榝ormule鈥� menu over a long lunch,鈥� says Catherine. 鈥淵ou can go skiing in the Pyrenees, be at the beach in around an hour, or easily slide over the border to Spain.鈥�
For Catherine, the estate鈥檚 accommodation has been a labour of love, transforming it from almost derelict into a welcoming family home. Offering flexible living, it now comprises a main residence, secondary residence and a guest cottage, with the addition of an outdoor swimming pool to make the most of the warm summers.
As family commitments draw the couple back to the UK, they have increasingly been managing Domaine Begude remotely, visiting more periodically or during the summer periods. With an established team in place, the Kinglakes are perfectly positioned to ensure a smooth transition to whoever next takes on the reins.
“For those considering this change in lifestyle, I would say that you don’t need to be an expert. You just need to surround yourself with good people,” advises Catherine. “And there is nothing I regret. After all, it’s not the greatest hardship having to taste wines every week!”
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