 A beautiful 18th century home , the Château de Villeneuve stands proudly on a plateau and its first asset surely is a breathtaking view on to a river which , so far , has remained wild.The Château has been built with " tuffeau " ( limestone/tuf ), a type of stone that has given to the region its famous classy look. The 25 hectares (ha) that surround the property of the Chevallier family have year after year , produced complex wines , never lacking of character.
"Lutte Raisonnée" is a more organic , conscious of ecology approach of viticulture , including the introduction of some bio-dynamic principles.
- The vineyards have been sown to grass seed to provide root competition and hydrous feed to the vines. Where not sown to grass , the soils are worked and tilled.
- The predatory typhlodrome insect is encouraged to thrive , being the arch
- enemy of the red spider mite , allowing thus , to spray less.
- Severe pruning ( in winter) , the supression of counter-buds ( in springtime) and green
- harvest or cluster-thinning ( in summertime) all in order to control and reduce yields.
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 The cellars, hewn out horizontally in the limestone hill and where the temperature stays at all times at 12°c , is the place where the vinification of the Château de Villeneuve wines happens.
The Saumur-Champigny as well as the Saumur Blanc will then mature in 400/500 litres wooden casks called " tonnes " (tons) in the area.
Since the 15th century , the Château de Villeneuve wines have always found their way to the tables of the most enlightened amateurs of the Loire Valley wines. |
