Located next to the towns of Angers and Saumur, the vineyards of Anjou-Saumur cover most of the Loire Valley.
The steps of our Anjou-Saumur Wine Route :
Anjou is best known for its great Chenin Blanc appellations (sometimes with a little Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc), especially Savennières and Coteaux du Layon. The rosé made in this region is also recognisable by its sweetness.
Saumur, for its part, is best known for its white and rosé sparkling wines produced traditionally. It also holds the appellation of Saumur-Champigny, which produces beautiful Cabernet Franc reds.
Château d'Epiré is a reference in the Savennières appellation and also the last Château to be handed down from father to son for over 100 years.
With its assets and impregnated with the history of the Savennières vineyard, Château d'Epiré is known for the minerality of its wines. This mixture of acidity linked to its geographical location north of the Loire and having a slight bitterness linked to the schist, gives the wines a sensation of touch on the palate that is quite unforgettable.
In addition to today's great dry wines, there is a small production of sweet wines which reminds us that the Savennières appellation was first known for its semi-dry wines; the sugar/acid balance of the alcohol brings great pleasure to those who like a subtle sweetness for an aperitif, a blue cheese, a foie gras or Asian cuisine...
Château Soucherie is probably one of the most beautiful properties of all the estates we work with. The home itself is a unique architectural gem, located on a hill overlooking the vineyards that meander down to the Layon River. An estate that is well worth a visit in the spring, when the slopes and valleys are beautifully green.
These slopes and valleys will lead you to the Béguinot family. Owners since 2007, they will surprise you with their warmth, courtesy and good humour.
What more can I say, Château Soucherie is a place in perfect harmony with nature ...
The Domaine de Nerleux is anchored on the lands of Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg, 8 kilometres south of Saumur. This family property of 50 hectares will charm you with its buildings and especially its terroirs of tuffeau, the limestone rock of the region.
Today, it is Amélie, the first woman of her family and her generation, who is at the head of the estate. She does her utmost to preserve and perpetuate the heritage entrusted to her and has used the talent of her grandfather, a winegrower, to create a wine of exquisite refinement; an extra-brut, natural crémant, without any additional sugar, liquor or even sulphur. At Domaine Nerleux, flavour, subtlety and elegance are the key words!
Coming from a family of winegrowers, Sébastien decided to take over the family Château after launching his own record label. His wife, D'Arcy, is a Canadian who works in Paris in the media field for a number of famous fashion brands... in short, a dynamic couple!
Sébastien's father took over the chateau when it had very little wine, and soon after, the first prizes made their appearance. Apart from managing and running his family's wine business, Sébastien wanted to restore his old house to become a family museum, and to honour his ancestors who served in the navy in Peru, Tahiti and Japan.
It was not by chance that Sebastian found his way into the wine business: "Wine is like music, like poetry. You can feel it, but you can't really describe it in words, it's magic." When you get to the castle, you too will have this magical feeling, and it will not let you go!
