Terroirs
The grape varieties
The two grape varieties we use are the noble Loire varieties:
- Cabernet Franc, for Saumur Rouge, known for its ideal development on clay-limestone terroirs with a northern climate, and its fine, elegant wines.
- And Chenin Blanc, which we use for Saumur Blanc. A grape variety with character, very typical of the region, it is the perfect representative of our vineyard terroirs.
These two grape varieties are planted at 5000 vines per hectare, if not more.
Climate
The region’s climate is semi-oceanic Temperatures are fairly mild and constant, but there is a Saumur-Doué-en-Anjou microclimate, warmer and drier than the rest of the Loire Valley, with only 525 mm of annual precipitation (the national average is 900 mm). This micro-climate enables us to make great red wines, which need more sun than whites. This is due to the hills that protect the Saumurois region from most of the heavy clouds coming in from the ocean, 150 km to the southwest.
The soil
While the soil is clay-limestone (Cretaceous – Upper Turonian), the subsoil is derived from sediments deposited 80 to 90 million years ago, resulting in the formation of a hard, white or light ochre chalk: tuffeau. This allows rain to moisten the subsoil without soaking it in water, like a sponge.
Tuffeau has been used to build hundreds of Châteaux all along the Loire towards Nantes, but also as far away as England, and the cellars thus created are ideal for preserving wine, as the temperatures are cool and very constant.
La Bretaudière
Château de la Bretaudière
Meigné – 49700 Doué en Anjou
Contact
Phone : +33 (0) 983 780 501
Email : info@labretaudiere.net