Olivier Richaud has been Technical Manager of Domaine d’Aussières since January 2019. Before joining Domaine d’Aussières, Olivier was Project Manager of Domaine de Long Dai (China), for 6 years. He was in charge of the creation of the vineyard (30 ha) and the design and implementation of the process equipment and facilities. He also supervised and coordinated the construction of the building.Olivier Richaud started his career as Assistant Winemaker for Skalli-Fortant de France, then in 1998, he joined Domaine Chandon (Australia) within the Moët Hennessy Wine Division, in charge of implementation of sparkling wines vinification techniques and must oxidization protection methods. Olivier is a sports enthusiast, in particular running (Médoc Marathon, Bordeaux and Paris Semi-marathon), sailing, alpine ski and mountain bike (La médocaine race). In 1994, he did his french civilian service as Technical Manager on a coffee plantation (SODECI – CIRAD), in Cameroun.

Aussières has made wine since the Roman era, a period when the great properties of the “Roman province of Narbonne” were recorded in the land registry and became the main wine suppliers to Rome. Acquired in 1999 by Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, the 550-hectare Domaine d’Aussières underwent a vast rehabilitation programme to restore and revitalize one of the oldest and most beautiful wine-making properties in the Narbonne region. 167 hectares of vines were replanted with carefully selected traditional Languedoc grape varieties: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan, complemented by Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay. The estate buildings were restored at the same time and a new winery installed in the old cellars, in the heart of the vineyard. Two thirds of the vineyard fall in the Corbières AOC appellation and one third in the Vin de Pays d’Oc appellation.