When it comes to Muscadet, patience is the key.
In 2014, Emeline & Jérôme took over the Domaine de la Fessardière, located in Vallet within the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation with 100% Melon de Bourgogne grape variety. Both agronomists by training, the novice winemakers inherited a very healthy vineyard having been converted to organic back in 1997 by the previous owner.
Before turning to winemaking, Emeline worked 10 years with NGOs and in an Agro-management consulting company while Jérôme was working in the water and environment sector. After some years working in Vietnam and then returning to France, it was a no-brainer for them to become winemakers upon meeting their predecessor at the estate. As true nature and wine lovers they were immediately seduced by the land and the potential of the vines to produce living and tasty wines combining tradition, innovation, and care. They studied and learned winemaking and became really good at it!
“The organic matter stuck in the soil isn’t available straight away, it first needs to be mineralized. In a healthy soil, there’s a whole bunch of mushrooms, yeast and bacteria taking care of this process underground but they also need air and oxygen. By smoothly working the soil we help to mineralize the organic matter that will feed our vines.”
