It is very difficult to select just a handful of our Loire winemakers, as they are all so talented. Nevertheless, when talking about the great wines of the Loire, it is impossible not to mention certain names. Each one, in different styles, manages to arouse strong emotions as soon as the bottle is uncorked.
In the most important wine-producing village in the region called Touraine, the Clos du Porteau has been growing and making wine since the beginning of the 14th century and today offers a wide variety of products: from Pet'Nat to sulphur-free wine, the vintages are all as good as each other.
In this atypical estate in the Loire, on the slopes of the Cher Valley, Olivier cultivates his vines organically. At the estate since 2008, he is a bit of a goldsmith winemaker who makes Natures wines that are both precise and unique, guided by his guiding principle: "to make zero defect wines".
Domaine FL is a family wine estate located in Rochefort sur Loire in Maine-et-Loire. The vineyard produces only organic wines and the vines are managed according to the precepts of biodynamics. Their vineyards are spread over the following appellations: Savennières, Roche aux moines, Anjou Blanc, Anjou Villages, Coteaux du Layon, Chaume 1er Cru and Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru.
The Clos des Quarterons is a magnificent and unique estate with a cellar dug into the hillside of Saint Nicolas. The wines of Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil are recognised as AOP and are only produced in the eponymous commune! The vintages are delicious and gourmet, to be savoured to the full.
Guillaume arrived at the estate in 1995. The soil had not been worked for over 30 years and the vines were complicated to maintain. He immediately turned to organic farming and biodynamics. After years of effort, the yields are high and the wines are magnificent.
Situated on the banks of the Cher, the estate enjoys a special climate which allows the grapes to capture all the aromatic power of the clay and sandy soil. The wines of Château de Fontenay are the fruit of the meeting of two families: the Carli and Corby families. This collaboration results in wines that are faithful to the typical Touraine characteristics.
The estate cultivates and vinifies about ten hectares of vines, organically grown with a natural approach in the cellar. The perfect mastery of the Chenin grape has earned them several recommendations from the RVF, Robert Parker and Bettane & Desseauve.
Agriculture is in the family's veins. Originally from the North of France, the Desgrousilliers family has gone from growing cereals and raising dairy cattle to growing vines with unflagging enthusiasm. It was in 2002 that Hervé and Christine embarked on their winegrowing adventure out of a passion for wine.
In the Ménard-Gaborit family, being a winegrower is more than a job, it's a way of life! Indeed, their estate has been established since 1734 in the Muscadet vineyards, in the heart of the Loire Valley. Today Philippe, Thierry and Pascale perpetuate the family tradition and adapt to the challenges of the 21st century.
