Perched on its hill which dominates the road between Narbonne and Gruissan (Aude), Château Capitoul radiates a newfound youth after four long years of rehabilitation work.
For the family wine group Bonfils, it was a question of transforming this acquisition of 2011 into a wine tourism destination of great prestige.
“When we acquire an estate, we do not separate the vineyard from the building.
The whole exists.
It is coherent and we are passers-by in the history of these fields.
We work with respect for what already exists, ”assures Laurent Bonfils, director of the family group, which today includes seventeen estates for 1,600 cultivated hectares.
Vineyard and infinity pool
Among them, three remarkable estates saved from real estate decrepitude: Château des Carrasses, near Capestang, Saint-Pierre de Serjac (Puissalicon) and therefore today Château Capitoul. "To do prestigious wine tourism, you need exceptional places in an exceptional environment, without any visual pollution" explains Amadou Diop, the group's financial director, who has injected 40 million euros into this property of 62 ha of vines now coupled with a real estate park in the shade of a completely renovated castle.
“Without vines and wine tourism, who could save these masterpieces?
Nobody ”, boasts Laurent Bonfils who has obtained the building permits for 44 holiday homes which benefit from all the hotel amenities of Château Capitoul (spa, restaurant, sunny terraces).
The very comfortable houses overlook the vineyards, the ponds and the large infinity pool.
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“Via our subsidiary Domaines et Demeures, they are sold, 100% to foreigners, except a Frenchman living in New York.
The buyers are passionate about wine tourism and the art of living in the south of France.
They stay in this second home for a few weeks, or even a few months, and rent it out the rest of the time, they are then our best ambassadors.
"
For the Bonfils and in particular the father - Jean-Marc -, the adventure began in 1962 when, after having left the family estate in Algeria in a hurry, he found refuge in the tiny domain of Lirou, north of Béziers, which has since become the heart of a true empire.
