Romain was born and raised in the heart of the Anjou countryside and started his winemaking adventure in 2018 with just 30 ares, that's around 3/4 acre, of non-treated Sauvignon blanc vines in the hamlet of Étiau, 15 miles south of Angers. It’s a short walk from where he lives with his family, dogs, cats, sheep, chickens, a mule, and ducks and also where he makes his wines, in the barns and lean-to's surrounding the old farmhouse.

In his previous life, which actually prepared him quite well for what was to come, he worked in a garden nursery cultivating plants and vines, but he also helped out with the family vines. He started pruning vines at the age of 15 – his grandfather and uncle had vines – then later worked for Closerie Belle Poule, Jerome Saurigny, and ultimately, Didier Chaffardon who influenced Romain very much with his knowledge of vines and their life cycle. 

He currently has four parcels totalling 2 hectares, that’s just under five acres - his low yielding 30 ares of Sauvignon Blanc planted in 1992 from Étiau, 30 ares of Chenin blanc from Faye d’Anjou, a 70-ares parcel containing both old vine Grolleau Noir and the rarer Gamay de Chaudenay - reportedly occupying less than 200 hectares in France - , and finally a 70-ares parcel of Cabernet Franc planted in 1957 containing a few more rows of the Gamay de Chaudenay. 

Romain’s wines are a great reflection on him and his affinity to nature. From his experiences, he learnt not only about vines but also the plants and flowers that can influence the vines and help them flourish. Amongst other things, he plants mustard, potatoes, and daikon to protect and improve the soil. In the cellar, he makes his wines as naturally as possible, slow and long pressing, long macerations, no additives at all, no temperature control, fermentation by indigenous yeasts, and manual bottling by gravity.

currently available