You’ll find the restaurant of the wine estate Domaine Deshenry’s in a renovated stone barn near the remains of a 12th-century abbey- Sylva de Plana. It’s quite a setting to enjoy some of Languedoc’s fine wines from the prestigious Faugères terroir. And they pair perfectly with the seasonal Mediterranean dishes that leave Chef Robin Alexander’s kitchen. Topped off with a genuine welcome, you have all the ingredients for a good time.
Henrys
The number of Henrys in the Bouchard family explains the name of the wine estate Domaine Deshenry’s. It is now run by Nicolas (not a Henry, but still a Bouchard) and his wife Charline, representing the fifth generation since 1998. Faith has brought the family from Alignan-du-Vent to the Faugères region, as Nicolas’s father inherited some vineyards at Laurens. It happened to be near the ruins of the Abbaye Sylva Plana, belonging to Cistercian monks over eight centuries ago. It is believed that they already produced wine back then. Today, Domaine Deshenry’s still creates IGP Côtes de Thongue wines, whereas the organic Abbaye Sylva Plana wines fall under the AOP Faugères.
La Table Vigneronne
So much for the wine… as the winegrower also has a restaurant: La Table Vigneronne de l’Abbaye Sylva Plana. In summer, they serve lunch from Monday to Saturday and dinner from Thursday to Saturday. In winter, they only do lunch on weekdays. Entering the former barn revealed an inviting dining room combining the stone walls with a concrete floor and elegant furniture. However, Chéri and I were directed to a table-for-two in a romantic corner of the beautiful shaded exterior. We arrived spontaneously after our hike to Mont Caroux and felt slightly uncomfortable in our sports gear. But the host made us feel at ease, and after a welcoming glass of water, we soon enough ordered a glass of very local wine. And we made our choice between one of the set menus (29.50 or 42 euros for three courses).
Fancy setting
Hiding our dusty shorts under a white cloth napkin, we blended in more in the fancy restaurant setting. The starters (two-coloured melon with Iberian ham for Chéri and a red mullet ceviche for me) were a delight to the eyes and the mouth. A classic beef tartare (Chéri) and steaklet of duck (me) made us slightly purr with happiness. And the dessert- profiteroles with salted caramel for Chéri and a strawberry pavlova- concluded our lunch in style. A final digestif at the bar offered on the house made us completely forget we looked like hobos. The next time, we will dress up more to match this charming restaurant, as it is definitely one for the books!
