The subsoil and soils of the Faugères PDO are made up of fairly soft, laminated, fractured and slightly acidic rocks. These shales are everywhere, and the soils themselves are mostly shallow. Depending on the orientation of the layers of rock, the roots of the vines can penetrate the cracks and in summer go to seek the water retained in depth. The soils are very stony, not very fertile and filtering. Annual rainfall is quite low, around 550 mm, and the summer drought is very marked. These factors naturally lead to low yields, but to good ripening and a good balance of the grapes, especially as the climate and the low vigour of the vines help us to contain diseases.
At Faugères, the vines are grown on small plots of land set in the garrigue on the slopes and the outcropping rock. Holm oaks, strawberry trees, tree heathers, rockroses and all the other species that inhabit these exceptional environments are the permanent companions of our grapes.
Autignac is the southern gateway to the appellation. Our vines, located in the communes of Autignac and Laurens, benefit from rather drier climatic conditions and fairly superficial soils. We are usually the first to start harvesting.