Domaine de la Garrelière

Domaine de la Garrelière: a biodynamic benchmark in Touraine

A historic estate at the gates of Poitou

Located in Razines, in the south of Touraine, Domaine de la Garrelière is a vineyard steeped in history, with origins dating back several centuries. Formerly owned by the Duke of Richelieu, the estate once comprised nearly 60 hectares of vines. In 1973, Pierre Plouzeau purchased the property and undertook extensive restructuring, replanting noble grape varieties. His son François Plouzeau took over the estate in 1985 and continued this work with the aim of revealing the full personality of this unique terroir.

The vineyard now covers about twenty hectares in a single block, on a hill culminating at 130 meters above sea level. The soils blend clay with flint, clay-limestone, and eolian sands, offering a wide diversity of expressions for the estate's emblematic grape varieties: Chenin, Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Pioneering biodynamics and natural wines

The Domaine de la Garrelière has been managed biodynamically since 1993, long before this practice became widespread in the Loire. In the vineyard, no herbicides, insecticides, or synthetic fertilizers are used. In the cellar, winemaking prioritizes indigenous yeasts, aging tailored to each cuvée, and very limited use of sulfur, with little to no filtration depending on the vintage.

The wines of François Plouzeau, now joined by his son Antoine, are renowned for their precision, energy, and great drinkability. Whether it's the crisp Chenins, the vibrant Sauvignons, or the delicious red Gamay and Cabernet Franc, each cuvée sincerely expresses this unique terroir of southern Touraine, which has become one of the benchmarks for living wines in the Loire Valley.