The vineyard

« Looking for the expression of the terroir »
AOC Touraine Chenonceaux
Flint clay soil at Domaine des Roy

A soil, a climate...

Our ten hectares vineyard is situated on the right bank of the Cher hillside, on a flint clay soil. The flint accumulates heat during the day and produces it during the night. This type of soil allows the production of red wines to put by.

The temperate weather of the Loire valley is characterized by beautiful autumns and an outstanding luminosity which allow a good ripening of the grapes. Pontlevoy, situated between the Loire and the Cher (its tributary) is protected by the Montrichard and Chaumont forest. This micro climate is favourable to vine growing. Thus, our vineyard is protected from numerous rains and storms during summer.

...and some hand labor on our 60 000 plants

Our vineyard has always been weeded mechanically (without any weedkiller). In our opinion, this choice offers several advantages: it is respectful of the soil life and it allows the expressiveness of the soil we are looking for in our wines.

From spring, the weather (rain) is not always mild and we have to protect the vines against diseases such as powdery mildew and devastating insects (worms, cicadas). Otherwise quantity and quality of the grapes could be damaged. Only natural contact products are sprayed.

From May to August, a meticulous hand labor is used in the vineyard to encourage the ripening of the grapes. Several activities fulfil our days until grape harvest: Epamprage (cut branches without interest), trellissing (keep branches between string wires), thinning out (take off grapes), and leaf removal.

Organic Farming Logo Ecocert Certification
Since 2005, we are controlled by Ecocert, certifying agency for organic farming.
Manual work in the vineyard by Yohann Boutin
Vineyard monitoring by Anne-Cécile Roy