Beaulieu-sur-Layon family estate of 53 hectares across Coteaux du Layon, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru and Savennieres, with the Les Rouannieres moelleux as the flagship.
Signature wines: Anjou Blanc Les Rouannières, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru, Savennières Clos de Coulaine
Tip: Les Rouannieres is the estate's flagship Coteaux du Layon Beaulieu cuvée from the south-facing schist slopes above the Layon tributary.
Address: 1 impasse du Chanoine de Douves, 49750 Beaulieu-sur-Layon, France, Loire Valley
Chaudefonds-sur-Layon estate centred on the schist-and-volcanic Prince site, with dry Chenin and old-vine Coteaux du Layon plus Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Prince cellar
Signature wines: Anjou Blanc Le Cornillard, Coteaux du Layon Les Bruandières, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru
Tip: Patrick was one of the first growers to push Anjou's dry Chenin into grand-cru territory; the Le Cornillard parcel is the reference.
Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay five-generation family estate of 25 hectares biodynamic (Biodyvin) and organic (Ecocert), with parcels in Anjou, Coteaux du Layon and Savennieres.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay cellar
Signature wines: Savennières Clos le Grand Beaupréau, Anjou-Villages Côte de la Houssaye, Coteaux du Layon Saint-Lambert Clos des Bonnes Blanches
Tip: Clos le Grand Beaupreau (Savennieres) and Cote de la Houssaye (Anjou-Villages) are the high-end parcels worth seeking.
Anjou natural-wine cult: four hectares of Chenin Blanc parcels around Martigne-Briand farmed organically and biodynamically, vinified with zero intervention as Vin de France.
Tasting: No public visits. Allocation only.
Signature wines: Les Nourrissons, Les Terres Blanches, Les Onglés
Tip: Stephane trained with Mark Angeli; Les Nourrissons (centenarian Chenin on schist) is the cult bottle.
Chaudefonds-sur-Layon estate centred on the schist-and-volcanic Prince site, with dry Chenin and old-vine Coteaux du Layon plus Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Prince cellar
Signature wines: Anjou Blanc Le Cornillard, Coteaux du Layon Les Bruandières, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru
Tip: Patrick was one of the first growers to push Anjou's dry Chenin into grand-cru territory; the Le Cornillard parcel is the reference.
Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay five-generation family estate of 25 hectares biodynamic (Biodyvin) and organic (Ecocert), with parcels in Anjou, Coteaux du Layon and Savennieres.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay cellar
Signature wines: Savennières Clos le Grand Beaupréau, Anjou-Villages Côte de la Houssaye, Coteaux du Layon Saint-Lambert Clos des Bonnes Blanches
Tip: Clos le Grand Beaupreau (Savennieres) and Cote de la Houssaye (Anjou-Villages) are the high-end parcels worth seeking.
Anjou natural-wine cult: four hectares of Chenin Blanc parcels around Martigne-Briand farmed organically and biodynamically, vinified with zero intervention as Vin de France.
Tasting: No public visits. Allocation only.
Signature wines: Les Nourrissons, Les Terres Blanches, Les Onglés
Tip: Stephane trained with Mark Angeli; Les Nourrissons (centenarian Chenin on schist) is the cult bottle.
Saumur-Champigny's grand cru: the Foucault brothers' 10 hectares of Cabernet Franc and old-vine Chenin at Chace, sold to the Bouygues family in 2017 after eight family generations.
Tasting: No public visits. Wines on strict allocation through importers.
Signature wines: Le Bourg, Les Poyeux, Le Clos
Tip: Le Bourg from old vines is the appellation's reference grand-cru-class bottle; vintages 2005, 2009 and 2010 are the modern benchmarks.
Dampierre-sur-Loire Saumur-Champigny estate of 18.5 hectares, certified organic since 2007, with cellars dug into the tuffeau cliffs above the Loire.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the troglodyte cellars by appointment
Signature wines: Les Fevettes, Lisagathe, Tuffe
Tip: Lisagathe, from the two best old-vine parcels, is the long-ageing flagship; book the troglodyte cellar visit.
Varrains domaine taken over by Thierry Germain in 1991, 28 hectares biodynamic, trained by the Foucaults of Clos Rougeard.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment in Varrains
Signature wines: Cuvee Domaine, Clos de l'Echelier, Franc de Pied
Tip: The Franc de Pied cuvee from ungrafted vines is the cellar-door rarity; the Cuvee Domaine is the textbook entry point.
3-day Private tour to Top 7 Loire Valley Castles with 2 Wine tastings. Chenonceau, Amboise, Chambord, Blois, Chaumont, Da Vinci Clos Luce, Villandry by Mercedes. Live ...
Discover the Loire Valley and visit its three most prestigious castles of your choice on a private guided tour, at your pace, according to your wishes
Escape Paris for a magical day in the Loire Valley. Explore fairytale castles, wander charming Blois, and enjoy a local wine tasting along the way.
Wine tastings and winery visits in Loire Valley (22) · Wine tours and day trips in Loire Valley (35) · Wine tours by bike in Loire Valley (5)
