Introducing Le Mas de la Barben
The Mas de la Barben, à Nîmes, located in Nîmes, stands on a historic wine estate. Built in the 17th century, this mas has withstood the test of time while preserving its authenticity. After being taken over by the Hermann family in the 1990s, the estate was transformed into a modern and refined venue, while staying true to its roots.
The estate spans 60 hectares of vineyards, producing high-quality wines typical of the Languedoc region. Visitors can explore this heritage through immersive wine tourism experiences. Le Mas de la Barben also provides an idyllic setting for hosting both private and professional events.
1960: The First Vines
The vineyard was established in the early 1960s, after the previous owners—who had arrived from Algeria just a few months earlier—undertook massive construction work.
Thanks to these large-scale efforts, 60 hectares of vines were quickly planted, mainly Grenache, Cinsault, and Carignan. The red and rosé wines produced were sold in bulk and in BIB (Bag-In-Box).
A fun bit of trivia: the soil and stones excavated during these works were used as fill for the construction of the A9 motorway, just a few kilometers away!
1998: A New Chapter with the Hermann Family
The Hermann family took over the estate in 1998. The buildings were renovated and the vineyard was restructured to produce warm, harmonious wines.
In 2012, Damien Hermann took over from his father Marcel with fresh energy and a new vision:
“Wine is a passion of mine, but from the very beginning, I wanted to diversify the business—particularly by developing oenotourisme (tourisme related to wine)”.
The vineyard’s losses due to scorching summers and hungry wild boars only reinforced this change in direction.
As a result of these losses, the large wine cellar built in the 1960s became oversized for processing the harvest from the estate’s now 18 hectares of vines (including 6 hectares of young plantings)—a true oasis nestled within 120 hectares of garrigue.
And so, the next big project began four years later!
2016: Major Renovations
The winery was modernized and now covers 500 m², with a capacity of 4,500 hectoliters, primarily stored in concrete vats coated with epoxy.
The estate also has its own bottling line—bottles are filled, corked, and labeled on-site, then stored in an adjoining warehouse.
Today, the wines of Domaine du Mas de la Barben are recognized among the finest in the Languedoc region.
The old sheepfold was transformed and expanded, and the barn now houses a few elegant guest rooms.
The medieval mazet still stands, a silent guardian of the estate—but the Domaine has undergone a true metamorphosis. Long gone are the days when Mas de la Barben simply referred to a sheepfold nestled among the barbens (junipers) of the Nîmes garrigue.
2019: Le Mas de la Barben, an Exceptional Estate
After three years of renovation, completed in 2019, the estate now boasts a refined ensemble of buildings arranged around a square courtyard, framed by a partially covered gallery. It blends the warmth of a grand Provençal mas built in Pont du Gard stone with modern elegance.
The venue features versatile spaces perfect for seminars, promotional events, family celebrations, concerts, and art exhibitions.
We would be delighted to welcome you.
