Simon Rouillard

After eight years of experience gained with various winemakers of varying styles, including La Grange aux Belles, Les Vignes de Babass, Domaine de la Tournelle, Philippe Bornard, Frederic Agneray, and Nicolas Grosbois, Simon established his own estate in Anjou in 2019.
Its estate extends over 4 hectares, where old vines of emblematic grape varieties of the Loire Valley grow: Chenin, Gamay, Grolleau, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. In addition, he recently added an 80-acre plantation, housing Chenin, Grolleau, and Cinsault.
During the first three years of his installation, Simon developed a small business to compensate for the lack of vines and grapes due to climatic hazards, notably spring frosts. Its grapes come exclusively from winegrowers certified in Organic Agriculture, and it applies a natural winemaking approach without inputs.
The 4 hectares of vines are spread across the communes of Mozé-sur-Louet, Soulaines-sur-Aubance, and Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance, located in the department of Maine-et-Loire (49). The maintenance of the vines is characterized by decavating followed by superficial work of the soil carried out with a tractor. For vineyard treatments, Simon favors Bouillie Bordelaise and Sulfur. The harvest is carried out by hand, guaranteeing a careful harvest.
Concerning the aging of the wines, the reds stay in vats, while the Chenins benefit from a few barrels. Vertical presses are used to extract juice. Overall, winemaking and aging are carried out without the addition of any inputs, reflecting Simon's philosophy in favor of the purity and authenticity of his wines.