Une année en Corbières: A Year in the Corbières

This documentary photo project shows the beauty of an organic vineyard, the passion of winemakers who run it, and their commitment to sustainable agriculture. Domaine Les Cascades is run by Laurent and Sylvie Bachevillier and it is based in a small village in the Corbières region of southern France. I was introduced to Laurent and Sylvie in the spring of 2018, nearly a year after I moved to a neighboring village. I was eager to learn about agricultural life in our region and participate in the process. I asked if I could work with them, and soon soon after I became intrigued and impressed by the thoughtful, creative, holistic and dedicated manner in which they approach agriculture and manage their domaine. For example, during the harvest season each year, all of the grapes grown by Domaine Les Cascades are picked by hand. Small batches of wine are bottled by hand as well. During the winter, the Bachevilliers maintain the grass and weeds in their vineyards by letting their animals roam freely to eat the vegetation. No pesticides or chemicals are used. The Bachevilliers are quiet and unassuming, but the dedication and passion that fuels their work is profound. Domaine Les Cascades is one of many domaines at the forefront of a movement in the Corbières AOC that promotes not only a sustainable and organic way of cultivating the land and harvesting grapes, but also a more innovative approach to the process of aging and producing wine. This effort is significantly increasing the quality and sophistication of wine from this region, while also attaching particular importance to preserving and respecting the environment. In this project I seek to make photographs that honor the people, the work and the landscape in which they labor. My focus on Domaine Les Cascades is meant to serve as an example that illuminates the larger movement among winemakers in the Corbières.