Saumur-Champigny Clos de l'Echelier 2022 - Domaine des Roches Neuves

Domaine des Roches Neuves is located in Varrains, 5 km from Saumur, in the heart of the Loire Valley. Founded in 1850 by the Duveau family, the estate was taken over in 1991 by the Bordeaux winemaker Thierry Germain. He initiated a conversion to organic farming in the late 1990s, followed by a transition to biodynamic farming in the early 2000s.

Initially covering 12 hectares of Cabernet Franc, the estate expanded by 2 hectares of Chenin and 8 hectares of Cabernet Franc in 1996. In 2012, the vineyard was further enriched with new plots: Clos de l’Echelier and Les Mémoires. Today, the vineyard is composed of 61 plots, spanning 28 hectares under the Saumur Champigny appellation for the red wines and Saumur for the white wines. The exceptional quality of these wines, partly due to the biodynamic methods adopted by Thierry Germain, has enhanced the international reputation of both appellations. Indeed, the estate’s Saumur Champigny is the only Loire wine to be featured in the top 100 best wines in the world according to the American magazine Wine Spectator.

Thanks to his forward-thinking vision and marketing talent, Thierry Germain has transformed Domaine des Roches Neuves into a key reference in the Loire region. His respect for the terroir and commitment to ecological practices, combined with an effective communication strategy, have made this estate a rising star in Loire wines. Thus, Domaine des Roches Neuves blends tradition and innovation, proving that it is possible to reconcile commercial success with sustainable agriculture.