Front of the new Château de Villeneuve winery
Last Thursday we dropped in on Florence and Jean-Pierre Chevallier at Château de Villeneuve in Souzay-Champigny. Jean-Pierre had time to show us quickly round their new winery, which uses the amazing cellars/caves that run under the château. The caves are extensive and remarkably dry.
In 1969 they were sold to the Pays Nantais négociant Santejeau, which is now part of Castel Frères. This was the same year that the Chevallier family bought the estate. Later they were used by the Saumur sparkling wine house, Veuve Amiot. Then 20 years ago Jean-Pierre bought them back and has now renovated them. Previously his wine-making facilities were above Château de Hureau a little under two kilometres further west towards Saumur.
Jean-Pierre is currently renting his old winemaking facility at Hureau to Patrice Rétif, who used to be one of the partners in Les Champs Fleuris. Patrice with his wife Catherine now has his own domaine – Domaine des Damoiselles.
The entrance to the winery is on the
main road from Chinon to Saumur.
Looking down on the winery
with the caves under the château
Fermentation tanks
(above and below)
CRM and Jean-Pierre inspect some foudres
New barrels
A couple of eggs
The extensive cellars
(above and below)
Root growing down through fissures in the rock
Me and my shadow
Cave privée
Sorting the just picked 2017 Cabernet Franc
for Saumur-Champigny
(above and below)
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