Domaine des Baumard
Loire Valley - France
The Baumard family has lived and worked the vineyards in Rochefort-sur-Loire since 1634 and is considered one of the largest producers of Loire Valley and white wine in the world. Located in the heart of Anjou, the company was revived after phylloxera by Jean Baumard in the mid-1950s and is now in the hands of his son Florent, who took over the family business in 1987. His working philosophy focuses on intervening as little as possible in the vineyard and cellar. In 2003, Florent started bottling all his still wines with Stelvin closures, becoming a pioneer of this technology in France. The Domaine des Baumard produces cuvées of Savennières, dry wine made from Chenin Blanc grapes, and cuvées of sparkling wines made from Chenin, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. The estate also includes several vineyards in the Coteaux du Layon appellation and is the most famous producer of Quarts de Chaume: a sweet and intense, long-lived wine made from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes.