Domaine Champalou Vouvray "les Fondraux"

Domaine Champalou was founded in 1983 by Catherine and Didier Champalou, both of whom carry a profound winemaking lineage. Catherine represents the 12th generation of vignerons in Vouvray, while Didier is a 6th-generation winemaker from the Poitou region. Starting with just one hectare of land, the couple has grown the estate to 21 hectares, establishing themselves as Chenin Blanc specialists. Their daughter, Celine, joined the domaine in 2006 after gaining international experience in regions like New Zealand and South Africa, ensuring the continuation of the family's artisanal traditions.

The "Les Fondraux" cuvee is defined by its unique terroir of clay and silex (flint) soils, which sit atop the Loire Valley's signature tuffeau limestone bedrock. The vines for this bottling average 45 years in age, contributing to the wine's depth and mineral tension. Following a philosophy of sustainable and ecological viticulture, the Champalou family employs "Terra Vitis" certified practices, including cover cropping to encourage biodiversity and the use of the lunar calendar for vineyard tasks. In the cellar, they utilize slow fermentations with indigenous yeasts and aging on fine lees to preserve the purity and aromatic finesse of the Chenin Blanc grape.