Domaine de Bellivière

Since 1995, theBellivière estate has been in the expert hands of Christine, and Eric Nicolas, all driven by boundless passion. They were joined in 2015 by their son Clément and, in 2020, by his wife Laure-Anne. Bellivière is now one of the jewels in the crown of the Jasnières and Coteaux du Loir appellations.The Bellivière estate covers 18 hectares spread over five communes and more than 60 plots (Lhomme, Ruillé sur Loir, Chahaignes, Marçon, and Dissay sous Courcillon). This mosaic of terroirs constitutes the richness and diversity of the Sarthe department's wine production.

The Bellivière estate's vineyards are organically farmed and have been Demeter-certified biodynamic since 2008. The vines are cultivated (plowing, scraping) without herbicides or chemical fertilizers. The mass-selected plantations are deliberately designed to be high-density and higher quality, so as to make better use of the rare and valuable terroirs. Atthe Bellivière estate, the harvest is carried out entirely by hand and yields are kept very moderate in order to harvest only the finest grapes at optimal ripeness. This quest for ripeness, a constant concern for Eric Nicolas, leads, depending on the year, to wines with varying levels of residual sugar, offering delicious nectars ranging from dry to sweet.

In 2016, a second structure (wine merchant) calledLes Arches de Bellivière was created to cope with successive episodes of frost in the region. The team has entered into a long-term partnership with a winegrower from Mont Ventoux, who shares a similar approach to certified biodynamic viticulture and values that are closely aligned with those of the Nicolas family. The harvested grapes (Grenache and Aubun) are then vinified in the estate's cellars to produce red and rosé wines. The range is set to expand in 2022.