Portraits of winemakers

DOMAINES PAUL MAS, JEAN-CLAUDE MAS: AMBASSADOR OF ‘RURAL LUXURY

Jean-Claude Mas: Conquering the Languedoc Wine Region

From Grape Cultivation to Winemaking

Jean-Claude Mas may be a familiar name, and for good reason. As the head of Domaines Paul Mas, this child of winemakers has made a mark on the Languedoc wine region. "I am the 4th generation of my family in viticulture, but the first generation of winemakers. My ancestors specialized in growing grapes but did not produce their own wines," Jean-Claude points out.

After studying abroad, including in England, Costa Rica, and the USA, Jean-Claude made an essential discovery: "My various experiences abroad exposed me to cultures I wasn’t familiar with. I realized that wine wasn’t just about agriculture. When I returned to France, I knew I had to rejuvenate the family estate and turn it into a winemaking operation."

In 1996, Jean-Claude returned to Languedoc and learned the winemaking trade: "My wine education began with marketing, and then I worked my way up to the vineyard." Once his training was complete, Jean-Claude took over the management of the estate and gradually began to build Domaines Paul Mas.

Domaines Paul Mas: 100 Hectares of Organic Vineyards

Today, Domaines Paul Mas encompasses 650 hectares of vineyards and 1,400 hectares of vineyards under multi-year contracts with around 100 Languedoc and Roussillon winemakers. Spread across the entire Languedoc wine region, the partner vineyards of Domaines Paul Mas thrive in all the appellations of the area. "This is advantageous because it balances yield levels across different estates and allows us to offer an extremely rich range of wines," explains Jean-Claude, who believes that producing good wine depends primarily on "ripe and healthy grapes." "You must neither demand too much nor too little from the vine: the key is finding a balance between yield quality and grape quality. This expertise is crucial for producing wines with a good quality-price ratio," Jean-Claude analyzes.

Among the 650 hectares of Domaines Paul Mas vineyards, 100 are certified organic. The remaining 550 hectares are managed with sustainable practices. "I believe that all our winemakers will be organic by 2025," predicts Jean-Claude, who is not shy about investing in sophisticated technology to guide his complex vineyard in this direction. "I consider high technology to be the answer for transitioning our vineyards to organic, much like electric cars. In fact, we would love to adopt electric tractors."

"Wine Is Not a Product but an Experience"

Deeply passionate about winemaking, Jean-Claude shows a profound attachment to his homeland: "the most beautiful region in the world," although he admits to having a soft spot for Italy. From his two passions, a concept emerged: "rural luxury."

"Rural luxury refers to the quality of the product, but also the pleasure and moment of acquiring it. My luxury is to visit my estate, pick a ripe apple, search for truffles in Périgord, or share a moment with an exceptional craftsman." This "rural luxury" extends beyond mere concept, as it has its own ambassador: "Côté Mas." Opened in 2010 in Montagnac, this oenotourism complex features a restaurant, wine bar, boutique, and guest rooms. "Wine is not a product but an experience that we live through our five senses. This is what I call vinoculture," philosophizes Jean-Claude.

Constantly seeking to acquire more vineyards in Languedoc to expand Domaines Paul Mas, Jean-Claude is also taking his "rural luxury" abroad. "In France, we have Domaines Paul Mas; abroad, we have Côté Mas," highlights the Languedoc native, who has already opened two "Côté Mas" establishments in London and Hong Kong.