CHÂTEAUX DU BREUIL ET DE LA ROCHE LOIRE, FRANCE

In France’s majestic Loire Valley lies Châteaux du Breuil et de la Roche, situated on the right bank of the Layon river near the village of Beaulieu-sur-Layon, 20 minutes south of Angers. Built in 1822, Le Breuil’s vineyards are located on prime L’Anjou Noir vineyards: south- facing slopes of the Coteaux du Layon. The foundation of the winery lies in their superlative regenerative, certified-organic farming methods. The team has been working without the use of herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers since 2007, receiving their organic certification from Ecocert in 2015. They are now exploring biodynamics, and they utilize native hedges, trees and low stone walls as natural windbreaks and as pathways for wildlife to enter the vineyards from the forest. The resulting soil health is remarkable—turning over the soil in the Breuil vineyard reveals a rich network of mycelia (fungal organisms), earthworms, insects, and native ground cover, such as wild onion, garlic, and clover, among many others. The chai (winery) was rebuilt in 2007 and outfitted with stainless steel tanks and temperature control, so that each parcel could be handled and vinified separately. Since 1822 the château has produced some of the best wines in the area. In 2006 it was bought by Michel Petitbois, who manages it today with the help of David Vigan, a a world-class sommelier, who was born in Angers, and grew up in the tiny village of Valanjou, just a few kilometers south of Châteaux du Breuil.