Fabien Jouves
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Country of Origin: France
Location: Cahors
People: Fabien Jouves, Owner & Winemaker
Viticulture: Certified Biodynamic
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Fabien Jouves represents the 5th generation of a long line of winegrowers in Cahors. His family’s domaine, Mas del Périé, is situated in the Causses—the limestone plateaus that crown the highest slopes of the appellation. At over 1,100 feet above sea level in the hills of Quercy, his 27 hectares enjoy cool nights and a unique freshness that translates directly into the energy and tension of his wines. The vineyards are mostly planted with Côt (Malbec) and Chenin Blanc. Proud of the history of the region, Fabien has replanted old native grape varieties such as Jurançon Noir, Valdiguié, Noual and Gibert.
Originally destined to become a doctor, Fabien changed course in the early 2000s when his parents faced selling the family estate. He enrolled at the prestigious École du Vin de Bordeaux, spending weekends in Cahors tending vines and rediscovering his roots. Upon graduation in 2006, he officially took the reins of the domaine and began a full conversion to biodynamic viticulture—an approach he describes as allowing wine to become “the incarnation of a grower’s emotion.” Certification by Demeter followed in 2011, and today Fabien is an active member of Renaissance des Appellations.
Regeneration & Biodiversity
Fabien’s work extends far beyond the vines. He has reintroduced hedgerows, fruit trees, and heirloom orchard varieties that once divided the vineyard plots, reviving the traditional mosaic landscape of rural Quercy. Viti-forestry, integrating trees within the vineyard, is a key focus at Mas del Périé. Fabien views this as a practical and necessary adaptation to climate change, using trees as natural umbrellas to temper heat and preserve the ability to produce balanced wines for decades to come.
Beehives, lavender fields, truffle oaks, and Gascon pigs enrich biodiversity, foster pollination, and sustain a thriving ecosystem. Lavender planted among the truffle trees helps retain soil moisture and supports honey production. Cereals such as barley and wheat are grown in rotation to build organic matter and microbial life before new vines are established. Gascon pigs—a hardy, heritage breed native to southwest France—roam freely among the oaks and hedgerows. By integrating livestock into his regenerative system, Fabien closes the loop between plant and animal life: the pigs’ rooting aerates the soil, their movement stimulates natural fertilization, and their presence enhances habitat diversity. The pigs are living participants in the estate’s ecosystem and reflection of its “living soil, living wine” philosophy.
Winemaking Philosophy
In the cellar, Fabien follows a non-interventionist philosophy. Fermentations occur spontaneously with native yeasts, and aging takes place in a mix of concrete tanks, barrels, large foudres, and amphorae—each chosen according to the individual character of the wine.
His Vin de France range, labeled Vin de Soif, serves as a creative outlet: light, fresh, and highly drinkable wines often made with brief aging or carbonic maceration. His Vin de Terroir cuvées, by contrast, are vineyard-designate expressions that highlight Cahors’ complex limestone soils. Emphasizing a Burgundian sensitivity to terroir, Fabien lists the specific soil type on each label, underscoring his belief that place is the truest author of the wine.
Media Links
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