Domaine le Briseau

Loire Valley, France

Nathalie Gaubicher Heredia was a Swiss actress with an oenologist and sommelier diploma, who set out to find vines somewhere in France. In 2002 she settled in the Jasnières/Coteaux-du-Loire area in northern Touraine. Domaine le Briseau was started with four hectares of vines planted mainly with Chenin Blanc and Pineau d’Aunis, and has since grown to eleven hectares. All vineyard work is done according to the principles of organic viticulture and in 2006, the estate started its conversion to biodynamic principles. Nothing is added. There is no chaptalization, no selected yeasts, no sulphur, no enzymes, no de-acidification, no fining. There is one racking to get rid of the wine’s gross lees, and then ageing for several months, according to each cuvée. There is a only a light filtration, and addition of around 2g/hl of sulphur at the time of bottling. Her wines are characterful and full of French charm.