Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOCMelon de Bourgogne46 haFounded 1945Landron family (Joseph and Helene Landron)Winemaker Joseph LandronBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDMuscadet Sevre et Maine
La Haye-Fouassiere estate uniting Domaine de la Louvetrie, Les Grands Houx and Chateau de la Carizere over 46 hectares, organic since 2000 and biodynamic.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the La Haye-Fouassiere cellar by appointment
Signature wines: Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Amphibolite, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Le Fief du Breil, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Clos la Carizière
Tip: Amphibolite is the entry-point soil-cuvee; Le Fief du Breil is the long-aging old-vine flagship.
Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC (Gorges Cru Communal)Melon de Bourgogne10 haFounded 1804Fred Lailler (since 2011)Winemaker Fred LaillerORGANIC CERTIFIEDMuscadet Sevre et Maine
Gorges-based domaine taken over in 2011 by Fred Lailler from the retiring Michel Bregeon, with the Gorges Cru Communal aged 28 months on lees in underground glass-lined vats.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment in Gorges
Signature wines: Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Gorges, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie
Tip: The Gorges Cru, from gabbro and amphibolite soils, is among Muscadet's most age-worthy bottlings.
Sancerre AOC, Pouilly-Fume AOC, Menetou-Salon AOC, Quincy AOC, Reuilly AOCSauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir100 haFounded 1513Mellot family (Catherine Corbeau-Mellot)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDSancerre
Centre-Loire negociant-domaine with 100 hectares spanning all eight Central Loire AOCs, including sub-domaines in Quincy, Reuilly, Pouilly-Fume and Chateaumeillant.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the Sancerre cellar, including museum of family history
Signature wines: Sancerre La Chatellenie, Sancerre Rouge Le Rabault, Pouilly-Fumé Le Troncsec
Tip: Their portfolio is the most efficient way to taste all eight Central Loire appellations in one cellar visit.
Chinon AOCCabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc90 haFounded 1921Couly-Dutheil familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDChinon
Chinon's largest family-owned domaine, 90 hectares including the historic Clos de l'Echo (a Rabelais-era walled vineyard) directly opposite the town's medieval fortress.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the Chinon town cellar; underground caves dug into tuffeau
Signature wines: Clos de l'Echo, Crescendo, Rene Couly
Tip: The Clos de l'Echo monopole is the historic flagship; ask about the Rabelais connection on the cellar tour.
Bourgueil AOC, Chinon AOCCabernet Franc24 haFounded 1980Frederic Brochet (Ampelidae group, acquired 2016)Biodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDBourgueil
Reference Bourgueil grower founded by Pierre-Jacques Druet in 1980, with parcel-bottled cuvees from Grand Mont, Beauvais and Vaumoreau aged in demi-muids for 24+ months.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Benais cellar
Signature wines: Grand Mont, Beauvais, Vaumoreau
Tip: Druet wines need cellar age: Grand Mont after 10 years is one of the Loire's quiet old-bottle bargains.
Anjou AOC, Savennieres AOC, Coteaux du Layon AOC, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOCChenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc13 haFounded 1996Jo Pithon and Isabelle PailleWinemaker Jo PithonBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDCoteaux du Layon
Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay estate of 13 hectares plus negociant activity, organically farmed Chenin Blanc across Anjou, Savennieres, Coteaux du Layon and Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay cellar
Signature wines: Anjou Blanc Les Bonnes Blanches, Mozaïk, Anjou Blanc Amphite
Tip: Clos des Bonnes Blanches from old-vine Chenin in Saint-Lambert is the Coteaux du Layon flagship.
