Saumur AOC, Cremant de Loire AOCChenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet FrancFounded 1851Monmousseau family (Patrice and Juliette Monmousseau reacquired the company in 2015 from United Spirits / Diageo, returning it to family hands)Saumur
Monmousseau-owned Saumur sparkling house founded in 1851. Kilometres of tuffeau caves at Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent host the Saphir and Tresor cuvees.
Tasting: Year-round guided cellar visits and tastings in the kilometres of tuffeau caves carved into the cliff at Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent
Signature wines: bouvet-saphir, bouvet-tresor-blanc, bouvet-excellence-brut-rose
Tip: Saphir is the gateway Saumur Brut; Tresor Blanc is the barrel-fermented prestige cuvee with at least 24 months on the lees.
Saumur AOC, Cremant de Loire AOCChenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot d'AunisFounded 1811Terrena cooperative group (Les Grands Chais de France distribution)Saumur
Saumur sparkling house founded in 1811 by Jean-Baptiste Ackerman, who brought methode traditionnelle to the Loire. Tuffeau cellars at Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent.
Tasting: Guided tours of the monumental tuffeau galleries (20 m high, 50 m long) with a flight of fines bulles at the end; advance booking recommended
Signature wines: ackerman-cuvee-privilege-blanc, ackerman-louis-ferdinand, ackerman-royal-brut
Tip: The Cuvee Privilege Cremant de Loire (1 star, Guide Hachette) is the value entry; Louis Ferdinand is the iconic prestige bottling.
Cremant de Loire AOC, Saumur AOC, Saumur-Champigny AOC, Sancerre AOCChenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc71 haFounded 1885Champagne Bollinger group (since 1973)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDSaumur
Saumur Cremant de Loire house founded in 1885, part of the Bollinger group since 1973. Terra Vitis-certified 71-hectare estate at Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent cellars
Signature wines: langlois-brut-reserve, langlois-brut-rose, langlois-cadence-extra-brut
Tip: Brut Reserve ages a minimum of 24 months on the lees, double the appellation minimum; Cadence Extra Brut spends five years on lees.