Le Manoir de la Tête Rouge

Located on the hill of Puy Notre Dame in Maine-et-Loire, the Manoir de la Tête Rouge is the highest point in the Saumur region. Although the manor was built in 1649, Guillaume Reynouard did not acquire the property until 1995.

An old estate that has transitioned from organic farming to biodynamicfarming!

When he arrived, the soil hadn’t been worked in over 30 years, making it difficult to maintain. That’s when the idea of organic farming emerged: for Guillaume, “it’s just common sense for a farmer.” The vineyard is located at the foot of a hill, with the vines planted on the best clay-limestone terroirs in the Saumur region. This balanced soil allows the fruit to remain intact, thereby limiting the need for chemicals. The clay retains moisture, and the limestone provides filtering properties.

In 1998, his transition to organic farming was officially recognized through Ecocert certification, which is granted to winemakers who use no chemicals or GMOs and incorporate recycling into their production processes. His first vintage labeled “organic” was produced in 2001, making him a true pioneer in the field of organic farming.

He began his transition to biodynamic farming in 2010 and is certified by Biodyvin, an organization that brings together more than 192 estates adhering to the specifications of the International Association of Biodynamic Winegrowers. His goal is to nurture the balance of the land and the vines, preserve ecosystems, and allow the wine to fully express all the nuances of its terroir.

DISCOVER THE WINES OF MANOIR DE LA TÊTE ROUGE

A neglected vineyard: starting from scratch

In 1995, the estate covered 10 hectares, including the Encentoir plot. This is where the story begins! Today, the Manoir de la Tête Rouge boasts over 30 hectares of Pineau d'Aunis vines , a rare, forgotten grape variety that Guillaume believes has been “wrongly” disparaged, and which he planted on his estate. The winemaker has carried out several renovations on the manor to transform it into a residence and a winery.

Guillaume ran into a problem: the vines couldn’t tolerate having their surface roots cut. So he had to find solutions, and organic farming was one of them. Allowing the natural vegetation to grow between the rows—mowing only once before harvest so that the plants could thrive—was another solution. For him, the presence of plants and insects is important for preserving the balance of the terroir.

For Guillaume, hand-harvesting and tilling the soil are the keys to producing high-quality wines. Today, the vineyard’s yields are very good and consistent thanks to the winemaker’s expertise. But he still insists on making an “elite” selection of grapes to ensure the exceptional quality of his wines.

DISCOVER THE WINES OF MANOIR DE LA TÊTE ROUGE

Stories from the Manor

What a strange name for a vineyard! But the owner assures us that the manor is haunted only by a spirit of generosity, dedication, and a commitment to quality.

Guillaume has chosen to join AMAP (Association for the Preservation of Small-Scale Farming). The estate primarily sources its produce from local farmers, always with the goal of being more environmentally friendly and respecting nature.

The greatest joy for the winemaker and his team is welcoming guests for a tour of the vineyard and a tasting. So don’t hesitate to stop by—he’ll be delighted to see you!

DISCOVER THE WINES OF MANOIR DE LA TÊTE ROUGE

Manon (Les Grappes)

From September 15 to October 17, the Wine Fair is coming to Les Grappes!

For this September must-have, Les Grappes has been hard at work for several weeks putting together a selection of our finest homemade wines! No more “we’ve got nothing left to drink”—restock your wine cellar to kick off the new school year right and pair with your best apple pies.

Join us for this special event and discover wines from French small-scale winemakers, each with its own fascinating story. This selection features exclusively our finest organic, natural, and biodynamic wines. As always at Les Grappes, we are committed to promoting direct-to-consumer sales.

Treat yourself and enjoy drinks with friends or family meals at home.

Enjoy wines from our 1,200 featured winemakers across France—the perfect opportunity to discover different terroirs and their stories! All wines are delivered directly from the vineyards.