Local terroir

Savennières appellation is located on the northern shore of the Loire River. Its terroir is a rocky outcrop cross by geological faults composed of metamorphic and magmatic rocks.

The Loire river, longest French wild river, reigns over the Savennières Appellation. Its influence on the climate is crucial to vine-growing. It is partly thanks to this that our region is known for its ‘mild Angevin climate’.

Set on a rocky plateau, Savennières overlooks the Loire by around forty metres. This plateau is fissured in several places, known as ‘coulées’, giving it south/south-west-facing slopes and a mosaic of soils ranging from sandstone to shale, volcanic rock (rhyolite, phtanite, spilite) and sand.

A GRAPE VARIETY

In France, Chenin Blanc is grown mainly in Anjou (53%) and Touraine (37%). Worldwide, it accounts for 30% of Chenin production, making it an emblem of our region.

The only grape variety in the Savennières Appellation, Chenin has been grown in the Loire since the 9th century (in 845, it appears under its former name of ‘Plant d’Anjou’ in a diploma issued by Charles the Bald to the monks of Saint Maur Abbey). It is used to produce dry, sparkling and sweet wines.

Chenin is a ‘chameleon’ grape variety, which immerses itself in the soil in which it is grown and reproduces the specific characteristics of the terroir in the wine. Chenin grown in the shallow, schistose soils of Savennières expresses minerality and freshness. The wine has a great keeping potential.

OUR VINEYARD

The Cistercian monks who built the Old Church of Épiré in the XI century also owned vines. We know that since that time, there always have been vines reliant on the castle’s production.

Our biggest strength today is having all of our plots less than a kilometer away from the cellar. Having the vineyard this close allows us to preserve the quality of the grapes during harvests transports and keep an eye on the sanitary state of the vines.

Located on the highest hillsides of the Appellation, close to the Loire river, the Hu-Boyau and the la Croix Picot plots enjoy a remarkable South-Southwest exposure on shale soils where phtanite veins outcrop.

The estate has 10 hectares of chenin blanc and 0,5 of cabernet franc. The oldest vines are 60 years old. We replant regularly to limit the number of missing vines and to renew the plots. The last planting took place in spring 2023 at Moulin de la Croix Picot.

HARVESTS