Set on a rocky plateau, Savennières overlooks the Loire by around forty metres. This plateau is fissured in several places, known as ‘coulées’(flows), giving it south/south-west-facing slopes and a mosaic of soils ranging from sandstone to shale, volcanic rock (rhyolite, spilite) others sedimentary and also sand.
GEOLOGY AT THE ESTATE
The Hu Boyau parcel contains phtanite, a very rare, very dense sedimentary rock.
The Croix Picot parcel contains iron-bearing schist, a metamorphic rock.
ÉPIRÉ’S CLIMATE
Loire influence on the climate is crucial to vine-growing. It is partly thanks to the river that our region is known for its ‘mild Angevin climate’.
GRAPE VARIETY
Chenin blanc is the only grape variety in the Savennières Appellation. it has been grown in the Loire since the 9th century (in 845, it appears under its former name of ‘Plant d’Anjou’ in a historical writting). It is used to produce dry, sparkling and sweet wines. It’s 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.
With Savennières appellation the grapes are harvested 100% by hand.