The Great Vines

The Vaillant family is above all a family story. Domaine Des Grandes Vignes has been passed down from generation to generation since the 17th century. Today we find Jean-François and Laurence, brother and sister, at the head of the estate.
They are located in Thouarcé with 55 hectares of vines which span the Layon and part of which is attached to the famous Bonnezeaux appellation. Domaine Des Grandes Vignes cultivates several grape varieties typical of the Loire: Cabernet Franc, Grolleau, Pineau d'Aunis for reds, Chenin mainly for whites. Their plots are on different exposures and different types of soil: gray and green shale, phtanite, quartz, shell falun, sand, rolled gravel, etc.
The Vaillant family has been practicing biodynamics since 2008, to express the authenticity of the wines, they pay particular attention to work in the vineyard. Biodynamics allows Domaine des Grandes Vignes a global approach to the plant and the environment based on the influences that come from the earth, air and water. The vine flourishes in the best possible environment, which makes it less susceptible to parasites and limits applications of Bordeaux mixture. The development of microbial life in the soil is a priority so that the roots draw all the useful elements from the parent rock. Then, they promote the development of numerous annual and perennial herbs, which provide favorable biodiversity to the ecosystem. Domaine Des Grandes Vignes is also very attentive to the rhythm of the planets, which guides the work of the soil.
On the winemaking side, they intervene very little on the wines, no exogenous input. All the estate's vintages are without added sulphites, unfined and unfiltered, with the exception of wines with residual sugars (2 to 3 mg/L of SO2). Attentive to the lunar calendar, they favor fruit days for racking and bottling.