Château Yvonne, established in 1996, is located in the heart of the Saumur Champigny appellation, in the little village of Parnay, on the banks of the Loire River.
The estate has brought about what can only be described as a "renaissance" of Chenin Blanc, the white grape within the appellation, which once had an exceptional reputation in the late nineteenth century. Also known as Pineau de Loire, Chenin flourishes in Château Yvonne’s vineyards, leading to several cuvees of 100% chenin blanc being produced ; “Les Trézellières”, “La Grande Vignole”, et “Le Gory”. The small and local communes of Parnay and Montsoreau provide arguably a perfect haven for growing grapes, with the mildness of the Loire, the gradual southern facing slopes and the clay and limestone rich soils.
Red grapes for the estate are found mostly in Champigny. The parcels are called “Le Clos Lintier”, “Les Chalonges” and “Les Pierres Blanches”. Cabernet Franc is the sole variety planted.
After growing up around wine and a family of winemakers on the other side of the Loire River, Mathieu Vallée always felt attracted to wine, this region of the Loire and its terroir. Most parcels had been managed organically since 1998, with the rest fully converted in 2007, when Vallée took over the reins of the estate. The domaine has been biodynamic since 2011.
More pictures
