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It is at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes that the first Parcé settles in
Banyuls.
Apparently from the Loire area, the Parcé family would seem to have Protestant
origins.
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The
“Mas Blanc” branch of the family.
In 1910, the grandfather, Gaston Parcé, a village
doctor and landowner, marries into one of the oldest Banyuls families which has held vines since
1639. This marriage gives birth to the “Mas Blanc” as an entity, with the construction of a large
storage building in the centre of the
town.
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Gaston’s
son, Doctor André Parcé, a medical biologist, shows an interest for the world of wine from his early
years.
He is soon one of the defenders of quality of wine and joins Baron Leroy’s efforts in
the consolidation of the “Appellations d’Origine Contrôlées” (label guaranteeing the origin of
wine).
Doctor Parcé is on friendly terms with two great chefs of the time, Alexandre
Dumaine and Fernant Point and mixes with the best wine growers of the Bourgogne area who also become
his friends.
His great intent soon becomes to try to unite the elite of the world’s wine
growers in an academy which would further the cause of the “Appellations” and true
wine.
He concurrently holds several posts:
Mayor of Banyuls
Director of the
“Templiers” (Cooperative Wine Cellar of Banyuls sur Mer)
President of “Gastronomie en
Roussillon”
President of the International Wine Academy
President of the Banyuls and
Collioure Wine Academy
President of the French Wine Academy
And a member of many wine
growing and gastronomical associations.
His legacy:
“Grand Cru” Banyuls
The
predilection for black “Grenache”
The Collioure “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, with the
reintroduction of lost varieties of grape.
The notion of locality as in Bourgogne (a wine
growing region that he admired)
The recognition of Collioure and Banyuls in the world of wine
.
Like the mighty oak , he passed away in 1998 . He leaves us the memory of a pilgrim
spreading the good word on his chosen paths
.
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His
youngest son Jean Michel , immersed in this wine growing environment , walks in the vines , often
plays in the cellar and helps with the grape harvest .
Jean Michel Parcé gives up his
studies a year before the baccalauréat in 1974 . He goes to Bandol to the Peyraud family and enrols
in the Hyères technical school to complete his knowledge of wine growing and
oenology.
One year later , Jean Michel discovers the mysteries of wine tasting , the
understanding of soil and the philosophy of land with Jacques Puisais in Tours.
After his
military service , short visits to wine growing friends complete his tour as a “journeyman”
.
In 1977, Jean Michel creates his first vintage under the vigilent eye of his
father.
This also marks the beginning of a big adventure, that of the “Mas Blanc” where
father and son give new impetus to the estate .
André does the marketing, Jean Michel
does the wine making and storag .
In 1977 , the “Mas Blanc” revives the “Rimages”, that
is to say Banyuls wines made from more than 90% black grenache , but above all aged to raise without
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