# Olla Rouge (2025)

- **Producer:** Domaine Matassa
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Grenache Noir, Macabeu, Grenache Gris
- **Region:** Languedoc-Roussillon, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 11.2%
- **Average price:** €27
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 12–14 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** raspberry, cherry, redcurrant, rose, white pepper, fennel

## About this wine

Domaine Matassa was founded in 2002 by New Zealander Tom Lubbe in the village of Calce, located in the rugged Roussillon region of Southern France. Lubbe is widely recognized as a central figure in the low-intervention natural wine movement, focusing on ancient Mediterranean vines cultivated on high-altitude slate and limestone terraces. The estate relies on organic and biodynamic farming to produce unadulterated wines that capture the unique climate and granitic geology of the Pyrenean foothills.

## Interesting facts

- In Catalan, 'Olla' means 'the pot', created by Tom Lubbe as a lively, light, thirst-quenching red.
- The wine is a co-ferment of red Grenache Noir with white Macabeu and grey Grenache Gris grapes.
- Domaine Matassa was established by New Zealander Tom Lubbe, who previously trained at Domaine Gauby.

## Food pairing

This energetic, light-bodied natural red relies on bright acidity and gentle tannins to provide exceptional food versatility. Lightly chilling the wine allows it to cut through rich fats in charcuterie and poultry while keeping the palate refreshed, beautifully matching herbs and savory Mediterranean flavors.

## Wine making process

The grapes are harvested by hand from 50+ year-old vines at high altitudes. Red Grenache, white Macabeu, and grey Grenache Gris are harvested together and co-fermented whole-cluster using ambient yeasts in concrete vats. Maceration is kept brief at just 3 to 4 days. The wine ages on fine lees in cement tanks for 7 to 9 months without any oak maturation. Bottling takes place without fining, filtration, or added sulfur dioxide.