Domaine Sauvète
(An Online Virtual Visit)
by
Terry Sullivan
Images provided by
Domaine Sauvète
This article describing Domaine Sauvète is based on the online interview, online data and photos supplied by Domaine Sauvète. This article was written during the time of the world-wide 2020-2021 pandemic. Mathilde Sauvète (pictured left) answered our questions.
Summary: Nestled in the bucolic countryside of the Loire Valley, Domaine Sauvète is a multi-generational wine estate that produces a range of white, rosé and red wines.
Domaine Sauvète is located in the village of Monthou-sur-Cher. Vineyards abound on the rolling hills amidst the ancient stoneware castles, churches and ruins. This is a bucolic setting where wine enthusiasts would love to visit or call home.
History
Four generations ago, Georges Sauvète planted the first grapevines in 1905. Originally the estate was small as were the size of the vineyards, about 5 hectares (12 acres). There was a small production of wine. During the late 1800s, Georges worked in the flint industry. At the end of the 19th century, flint extraction stopped, and Georges moved to the Cher Valley for a job on a farm. He discovered grapevines and decided to plant his own vineyard. During the early years Domaine Sauvète crafted a few hectoliters of wine, that they sold to merchants or directly to consumers.
Second generation Roland and third generation Michel enlarged the vineyard between 1930 and 1975. Spring ahead to 1980 and Michel’s son Jérôme Sauvète joined his father. In 1986, Jérôme along with his wife Dominique put their passion to building up the domaine. The vineyards were converted to organic in 2000. Jérôme’s and Dominique’s daughter Mathilde joined the team in 2014. In 2017, biodynamic practices were used in the vineyard.
We asked Mathilde to comment about her and her parents, Jérôme andDominique (pictured right) wine journey.
Jérôme has always known the vineyard; he always helped his father and never had doubt that he will succeed his father. Dominique married a winegrower and decided to work with him to develop the domain after having their two children. I did studies of agriculture engineering. I discover every part of agriculture (plant and animal production, food-processing, environment…) and after different work placement, I realized that vine production is my way!
Vineyards
Today, the vineyards comprise 18 hectares (44.5 acres) of vines. The largest planting, 50 percent is of Sauvignon. Gamay and Malbec take up much of the remaining half of the vineyard. There is a small planting of one hectare of Chenin, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Pineau Aunis. Mathilde explained that her parents most enjoyable aspect of the vineyard is their two types of terroir. “The plateaux has windblown sand with richly varied stone content. On the first slopes along the Cher river there is eroded siliceous soil with lots of flints. This is a Terroir for AOC Touraine Chenonceaux.”
Winemaking
Jérôme and Mathilde share the winemaking responsibilities. Mathilde wrote, “We love the diversity of work depending on the diversity of varieties and soils. We love the vinification of white, rosé and red wines, the carbonic or traditional maceration for the red wines, the use of vats or barrels. The winemaking is intense, difficult but fascinating.”
Domaine Sauvète is producing about 60,000 bottles of wine with 15% of the production exported to the United States and Belgium. Organic certification extends not only to the vineyards, but also to the winery. The wines are organically labeled.
We asked Mathilde what changes may take place in the winery over the next five years. Mathilde responded:
We are actually in the process of handover/transmission. I arrived on the estate six years ago. My father took his official retirement the next summer. At the same time I officially took over the management of the domain. Concretely, my father is still working like before, but in the next 5 years, I want him and my mother to work less and less. I have to find a new partner to help me in the management.
Wine Tourism
Wine enthusiasts can visit the domaine throughout the year. While there they can tour the vineyard, cellar and have a tasting. Tours are offered in French and English. While visiting the area, try Domaine Sauvète wines paired with goat cheese, different pork dishes such as Rillettes de Tours, asparagus and strawberries.
Domaine Sauvète
15 Route des Vignes,
41400 Monthou-sur-Cher, France
Article written February 2021.
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