Rochefort-sur-Loire family domaine farming key plots in Savennieres (Clos du Papillon) and Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru, with bottlings going back five centuries of family history.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Rochefort-sur-Loire cellar
Signature wines: Savennières Clos du Papillon, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru, Coteaux du Layon Clos Sainte Catherine
Tip: Quarts de Chaume from Baumard, drunk after 20-30 years, is honey, quince and chalk in a glass.
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.
Tasting: Monday-Saturday 10-12, 14-16:45, closed Sundays
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.
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.
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.
Domaine des Baumard in Rochefort-sur-Loire works across Savennieres, Coteaux du Layon and Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru, and the estate publicly documents that its wines are produced without animal-derived fining agents (vegan winemaking). Florent Baumard's preference for cool fermentation and minimal cellar handling on his Chenin Blanc range supports the unfined-vegan approach.
Tip: Visits by appointment; the Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru and Clos de Saint-Yves Savennieres are the canonical wines to taste alongside the Coteaux du Layon Carte d'Or.
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.