Le P'tit Domaine

Le P'tit Domaine is owned by Richard Desouche, who moved to Saumur in 1990. A wine enthusiast who had been rubbing shoulders with the region’s finest winemakers, he embarked on his “wine adventure” in 2001 at a local wine merchant that supplied supermarkets. His passion and thirst for knowledge drove him to get as close as possible to the wine—to be on the side of those who make it! Very soon, the opportunity to work for his brother-in-law, Didier Sanzay, presented itself. He spent four years there, during which time he also earned a degree in viticulture and oenology. In 2006, he purchased the first hectare of vineyards for his P'tit Domaine, which now spans 2.5 hectares.

The cultivation practices at Le P'tit Domaine have gradually shifted from sustainable to Ecocert-certified organic, effective with the 2012 harvest. Le P'tit Domaine highlights two terroirs: "Les Bonneveaux" in the Saumur-Champigny appellation and "Entre Deux Voyes" in the Saumur appellation. Vinification is carried out traditionally in stainless steel tanks, and aging takes place in barrels without new oak to avoid overpowering the wines and to preserve the freshness of the fruit. Since 2007, Richard Desouche has also served as estate manager at Château de Chaintre, also in the Saumur-Champigny appellation.