Winery & History
ZOU Winery History
ZOU wines are crafted by the Union des Vignerons, a respected winemaking cooperative uniting over 300 dedicated growers who cultivate and vinify across 2,500 hectares of vineyard land.
Established in 1972, the cooperative reflects the deeply rooted winemaking traditions of southern France. Today, it stands as a model of sustainable and collaborative viticulture — a system where growers share resources, knowledge, and values to preserve the integrity of their terroirs.
Led by head winemaker Frédéric Garrabou a carefully selected team curates only the finest varietals and vineyard plots to produce the ZOU still French wines. These selections embody the rich diversity and sunshine-kissed soils of the region.
Now into its second and third generations, the Union des Vignerons is carried forward by the sons, daughters, and grandchildren of the original founders — each bringing fresh energy while honoring the spirit and commitment of those who came before.
At ZOU, we don’t just make wine. We celebrate legacy, community, and the expressive character of southern French terroir — in every bottle.
History of ZOU Sparkling Wines
Located in the heart of Limoux, Françoise and Baptiste dedicate their life to handcrafting premium sparkling wines.
For 7 generations, they have been cultivating vines on this legendary terroir, where the world first sparkling wine has been crafted in 1544 (one century before Champagne!). Among the 7 generations, 5 were women with a strong character, leading the way to Limoux recognition in France and abroad.
More than being the cradle of bubbly wines, Limoux is also a fantastic place because of its terroir, where a gentle Mediterranean climate meets the altitude of the Pyrenees mountains. This explains why Françoise and Baptiste can produce sparkling wines offering at the same time a charming fruity profile, with still a delicate freshness.
The total vineyard is 24 hectares cultivated organically for 3 years now, with 15 hectares of land that are going to be replanted on beautiful altitude parcels.