Loire valley, France
Domaine Bobinet
Sébastien Bobinet and Émeline Calvez make honest, expressive small-batch wines from their base in Saumur on the Loire. They strive to do everything in harmony with nature, working ethically to give voice to the unique terroir at their disposal.
Sébastien Bobinet took over this 1.8-hectare, seventh-generation estate in Saumur from his grandparents in 2002, starting off with 1.5 hectares of Cabernet Franc and 0.3 hectares of Chenin Blanc.
Logically organic
The question of whether to practise organic viticulture was a no-brainer from the outset. Sébastien eschews chemical treatments in order to protect the vineyard ecosystem. He picks the grapes by hand, before vinifying and raising his wines in one of the many cave-like cellars carved into the tufa-limestone cliffs of Saumur. Sébastien’s partner Émeline Calvez, a trained sommelier, joined him at the domaine in 2011. Her presence added a new dimension, culminating in the expansion of the business.
Pure, vibrant wines
Sébastien and Emeline began renting additional vineyard parcels in the early 2010s, and thereby increased their holdings to 6.5 hectares. Since 2014, Émeline has been responsible for making the wine and Sébastien for tending the vines. Sustainable and ethical principles continue to inform their work. Their meticulous approach extends to the cellar, where they shun the use of chemicals and harsh machinery. They only add sulphur if absolutely necessary, and only in very small doses. This results in pure, vibrant, delicious wines bursting with individuality and authenticity.
The couple bought a building in 2015, which they then completely renovated and turned into a stockroom, offices and a tasting room in order to simplify their operations.
