Heness House

HENESS is, first and foremost, a family venture that began in the warm lands of eastern Occitania, where various varieties of pomegranate trees grow. We’ve been cultivating this iconic fruit tree of the Mediterranean region and producing delicious pomegranate juice until that fateful day, seven years ago, when… a bottle was left open, exposed to the air and began to ferment!

A little mix-up by Mother Nature and a brand-new vinegar recipe – this refined condiment created by accident (hello, tarte tatin, failed cakes and other Cambrai mishaps).

On that day, the family decided to take this stroke of luck a step further and blended this pomegranate vinegar base with a variety of ingredients, each more aromatic than the last: basil, mint, tonka bean, candied lemon, raspberry, liquorice, Timut pepper, wild garlic…

It is a veritable collection of artisanal vinegars, comprising 25 different flavours and bottled on the farm. A small annual production of around 1,000 litres ensures its high quality. A flavour enhancer, it pairs beautifully with other gems of Pyrenean cuisine such as cheeses, foie gras and desserts, and can even be added to a cocktail shaker for drinks that are sure to pack a punch!

Their shop in Lourdes is a first step towards raising awareness of an everyday product that’s so little known: how and where is vinegar made? Can it only be used on a simple summer salad? But come to think of it, is vinegar really just about the acidity? To answer all these questions, the producers hand you a spoon with a few drops of their favourite creations, a big smile that seems to challenge you to bring it to your lips, and a thousand and one anecdotes, recipes and ideas for savouring this unexpected nectar.

Watch out for the addictive little game of guessing the flavour. A bottle could soon find its way into your bag alongside the other gourmet souvenirs to take home from Lourdes!

You’ll also find a fine selection of Corbières wines and artisanal olive oil.