The Dabadie family has had vineyards in Madiran since 1904, with Domaine Laougué established in the 1980s. Tucked into the foothills of the Pyrenees, Madiran is a hidden gem of a winemaking region that produces red, white, and sweet wines. It is here that the Dabadie family has maintained a patchwork of vineyards for five generations since 1904. Current owner and winemaker Sylvain Dabadie now runs the estate with the goal of propelling this region and its grapes to higher levels of recognition.

Currently comprised of 30 hectares, Domaine Laougué’s vineyards are planted on hillsides. Varied soil types bring out different characteristics of the grapes – the middle and lower slopes are clay-loam with small pebbles, the parcels directly around the winery face southeast and produce lighter wines, and the higher elevation slopes are a unique spot in Madiran where the soil is very shallow with underlying red clay that gives those wines more structure. The Atlantic Ocean heavily influences the region, which brings temperate winters, hot summers, early-season rainfall, and ample sunlight.

Domaine Laougué currently crafts 10-11 cuvées, mainly focused on single-parcel expressions that speak to their various soils, expositions, and nuances of each site. Organic farming commenced in 2014, and the estate achieved certification in 2020, with biodynamic practices also introduced in 2019. The wines of Domaine Laougué are innovative, pairing modernity with tradition and centering their expression of terroir. In a region where half of the wines are made by co-ops, this focus is notable, particularly Sylvain’s dedication to single-vineyard bottlings.