Marc Houtin created La Grange aux Belles in 2004. Former geologist, his passion for wine led him to abandon the classic route, retrain in viticulture and oenology and take over a 12 hectare vineyard in Anjou. Initally, most of the grapes went to the cop-op in Brissac but soon (and with the help of the generous 2005 vintage), he started making his own wines.
Now a team of three, the domaine has had its ups and downs over the past 14 years and quit the AOC system in 2014 after a control by ASSVAS (the Association de Services des Syndicats Viticoles de l’Anjou et de Saumur). These controls are supposed to ensure that growers respect the ‘cahier des charges’ (rules) of each AOC and include checks both in the vineyard and winery. Everything from density of plantation, canopy height and overall health of the vines is looked at and despite explaining their plans to grow the vines organically and make wines naturally, this fell on deaf ears.
Today all the wines are sold in the Vin de France category which gives the domaine the liberty to run its vineyards and winery as it wishes. A totally natural approach with little or no additions in the winery.
Le Vin de Jardin is a lovely fruity Grolleau, perfect summer drinking. Light and fresh and notes of herbs and pepper it’s a fabulous bbq wine. The grapes are picked by hand and whole bunch fermented. No oak influence to detract from the fruit.
An estate to follow the trio says ‘ we don’t have the pretention to say we’re making great wines! We make wines to our taste, unique wines’. For us, the domaine is what we would describe as natural but with a pragmatic approach to minimal intervention if necessary.
26, l’ecotière
49610 SOULAINES SUR AUBANCE
Tel : +33 2 41 80 05 72
