Thomas Batardière
A winemaker rooted in Rablay-sur-Layon
An atypical career path, from anthropology to viticulture
Thomas Batardière , a neighbor of the renowned winemaker Richard Leroy , settled in Rablay-sur-Layon , in the heart of Anjou in the Loire Valley , in 2012. A native of Angers , Thomas followed an unconventional path that gradually led him to the world of wine. After studying at the École du Louvre and then anthropology , he discovered his passion for wine while working in the restaurant industry . Encouraged by his boss , Thomas took a week off , which proved to be a real turning point . He began his winemaking career as an employee at Château Yvonne , where he worked for three years . During this time, he nurtured the desire to start his own business . After unsuccessfully searching for vineyards in the Saumur region due to high land prices , he found his ideal location in Rablay-sur-Layon , a region well-suited to producing great, balanced Chenin Blanc wines . 2012 marks its first vintage .
Exceptional terroirs for precision Chenin Blancs
Thomas Batardière cultivates just over 4 hectares of vines using biodynamic methods . His plots are ideally located in renowned terroirs such as Clos des Noëls and near Aussigouins and the Montbenault plateau . These vineyard sites are known for their poor soils , perfect for producing high-quality white wines .
A free, precise and pragmatic winemaking process
Free, precise and pragmatic winemaking
In the cellar, Thomas Batardière adopts a minimalist and interventionist approach . For his white wines , he avoids settling and limits racking , aiming to vinify without sulfur . The red wines result from a long infusion process , revealing themselves to be refined, delicate, and fruity . Although he prefers to make wines without sulfur , Thomas Batardière remains pragmatic and doesn't hesitate to adjust his wines if necessary , for example, with filtration . Thomas Batardière is one of those talented young winemakers ; his pragmatism and thoughtful approach to viticulture bring him closer to influential figures like Richard Leroy .
