CHÂTEAU DE HUREAU LOIRE, FRANCE

The Château du Hureau is located in the small town of Dampierre sur Loire, about four miles east of Saumur and 15 miles west of Chinon. The Château is set into the chalk cliffs, which also house the cellars. Behind the Château sits the winery carved out of the limestone cliffs in the 13th century and overlooking the Loire river. Its name ‘hureau’ denotes an old wild boar. The cellars, originally quarried for stone in the thirteenth century, are used for winemaking, elevage and storage. Philippe has gradually moved the domaine to organic farming. 50 acres over 21 separate vineyard plots are spread around the towns of Dampierre Sur Loire, Souzay, Champigny and Saumur and are planted with Cabernet Franc.