It began with an 18th century auction (May 5, 1791 to be exact) when our 4th generation grandfather, Monsieur Moustelon, purchased La Bousquette, a property owned by the nearby monastery of Fontcaude prior to the French Revolution in 1789.

Picture standing on the shore of the Mediterranean, with the sea to your back. Let your mind’s eye drift about 20 miles to the north and you’ll see, sprawling from the right bank of the Rhône to the foothills of the Pyrénées, the region of Languedoc-Rousillon, "nature’s amphitheater, covered in vines, and open to the sea”. There in the heart of Languedoc, draped over the craggy hillsides of St. Chinian, is our vineyard - Château Bousquette - the 50 acres where our roots were planted. Bousquette (boo-sket) in French means thicket or grove, which aptly describes our simple family estate, nestled amongst the pines with scents of lavender, rosemary and thyme refreshing the air. The view is breathtaking as you overlook her miles of vineyards, stretching all the way to the foot of the Cévennes mountains.

Languedoc is the largest wine growing region in the world, and is recognized as one of the three largest AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée: the top grade of French quality wine) zones in France, sharing this distinction with the likes of Bordeaux and Côtes du Rhône. We are truly fortunate in that our land has always been blessed with a wealth of exceptional "terroirs" (a French term that encompasses all of the unique characteristics of the land, environment and climate where wine grapes are grown).

Our family has cared for and nurtured La Bousquette for more than 200 years - growing Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Cinsault grapes for the making of our wine. In 1970 at the age of 75 our grandfather Pierre Fabre, a retired professor of medicine, decided to devote his "Golden Years" to the family estate. He studied and experimented with organic viticulture, seeking better, healthier ways to grow grapes and make wine. Fascinated with how he was able to produce better tasting wine that was healthier for both the wine consumer and the land that produced the grapes he converted our 50 acres of vineyards to organic growing practices in 1972. Shortly thereafter my brother, Dr. Michel Ginoulhac, took charge of the family property, making our wines and helping to establish the region's Organic Growers Association (AIVB). Languedoc has since become the largest producer of organic wines.

While making my home in San Francisco I returned many times to visit the family property and came to realize that our grandfather’s wine was the only wine I could drink without getting a headache. To make a long story short I soon became an ambassador for organically produced wines and founded the Organic Wine Compnay in San Francisco in 1980, thus pioneering the import of French organic wines into the United States. Sixteen years later my brother Michel left the management of Château Bousquette to the care of Eric and Isabelle Perret so that we together could concentrate our efforts in promoting the benefits of quality organic wines. Those efforts have since expanded to working with many US promoters of organically produced wine and foods as well.

Our personal selections now include the best of organically produced wines from small villages in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and New Zealand - wines that are human-friendly, reflect the personalities of their makers and made to be appreciated with food. With the expanding demand for nutritionally sound foods, we stand proud of providing the best quality one can hope for when looking for a wine with body (its structure), heart (its maker's pulse) and spirit (its connection with Nature). Our Organic Wines have a purpose - to make each of your occasions special, whether it be a wine with your food, or a wine for your mood.

It is with sincere gratitude that we toast to your pleasure, your health and the land that so unselfishly serves us all.