Built in the early 1500’s for a wealthy family from the town of Thouars, the Château du Petit Thouars is a 150-ha estate run today by Sébastien du Petit Thouars, the twelfth generation to dwell here since his ancestor George purchased the property in 1636. Though records and physical evidence exist of wine having been made on the property centuries ago, it wasn't until the late 1970s that the enterprise was revived by Sebastien's father, who planted fifteen hectares of Cabernet Franc (plus a little Chenin Blanc) behind the house. Sebastien and his wife D'Arcy moved with their two young children to the chateau in 2013, and they have since made wine their foremost focus.

Chateau du Petit Thouars is located in the commune of Saint-Germain-sur-Vienne, in the southwest part of the Chinon appellation. In contrast to the sandy soils that predominate further east in the appellation, the vineyards around Petit Thouars are clay-limestone-giving the red wines impressive potential for structure and complexity, as well as being particularly suited to producing outstanding Chenin Blanc.

Sebastien and D'Arcy have been working toward fully organic viticulture, having eschewed the use of non-organic treatments except as an ultimate last resort. The vineyards and cellar are managed by Michel Pinard. A true man of the land in both appearance and spirit, Michel uses his profound, bred-in-bone familiarity with the particularities of this cepage in these soils to craft beautifully balanced, classic, unforced Chinon of immense expressive power. His deeply-rooted mastery of craft marries wonderfully with Sebastien and D'Arcy's youthful zeal and vision.