Our Loire Valley Vineyards

In the XIIth century, when the Duchy of Brittany became independent, the first Goulaine, Jean de Goulaine Lord of the city of Nantes, strengthened the property - which is still surrounded with swamps - to protect itself from attacks of the Normans. This explains the loyalty of the Goulaine family to Bourbons. The Goulaine family remained owner of the domain until 1788, when it was sold to a Dutch banker. In 1858, a member of the Goulaine family reacquired the domain, which still belongs to this family.

The year in which the Chateau de Goulaine property began producing wine makes this the oldest wine- making firm still in service. It is reportedly the third oldest producer in the world, and the oldest of Europe. The estate is one of the last Loire chateau that still produces wine. The four rooms that you can visit on the first floor well-preserved and rich in decor, serve as a testimony to its remarkable heritage.

The chateau was built in 1880 in the Napoleon III style. It uses three elements from the area: freestone from Saumur, schist from Anjou and brick from Sèvres on a hillside overlooking the River Layon.

The Chateau and its old cellars, dominated by a steeple on each end, are quaintly charming and offer a wonderful panoramic view of the River Layon. This refinement is a sign of the estate's determined development programme, launched soon after its purchase by André and Dominique Lacheteau in 1987. At this time, the 25-hectare estate was extended and a new stainless steel winery was built with a capacity for 8,000 hectolitres. The old vines were kept but the owners added new, modern facilities to the vineyard.

Les Grands Chais de France bought the estate in 2005 and pursued the development programme. Over the years, the Château de Montguérêt has become one of the largest estates in Anjou and Saumur, and its expertise has been rewarded by many medals.

The estate overlooks the Boulogne Valley. During the French Revolution, General Charrette spent many years in the area, staying in the windmill on the banks of the Boulogne River below the chateau La Forchetière, trying to escape the Republican troops on his heels.

An 80-ha estate of vines planted in the Nantes countryside. Muscadet Côtes de Grand lieu/lie and Gros Plant/lie, each representing a volume of 30,000 bottles, are bottled at the château and sold under the “Château de la Forchetière” label.

Winemaking process is traditional: cool fermentation (between 15 and 17°C). Ageing over lees (no racking at the end of alcohol fermentation). Lees are regularly suspended (traditional Burgundy practice popularly called “stirring the lees”). This technique helps intensify the yeast autolysis as the lees “nourish” the wine. Wine production: 5,000 hl.

A family estate for 5 generations, Mr Lauverjat and his daughter are the proud owners of this estate of 20 hectares, representing the 3rd and 4th generations of winemakers on this estate.

The name "Grosses Pierres" comes simply from the very large number and size of pebbles and other pieces of stone found during the clearing of the land, when the vines were planted.

Traditional process for white wines.. The grapes are pressed after harvesting, and alcohol fermentation takes place at a low temperature (about 20° C). The wine is rapidly racked, filtered and bottled.

The 47-hectare estate is spread between 3 districts: Vouvray, Rochecorbon and Vernou-sur-Brenne. These districts are part of the Vouvray appellation on the north bank of the River Loire, not far from Tours.

The clay-calcareous soils and the different hillside vistas enable the Chenin grapes to express all their attributes as dry, medium-dry and dessert wines.

The vineyard is farmed according to integrated agriculture. The vinification combines pneumatic pressing, stalling the cold juices and fermentation in heat-regulated stainless steel vats