Domaine des Roches Neuves is located in the heart of the Loire Valley, in the village of Varrains. Founded in 1850 by the Duveau family, Domaine des Roches Neuves was taken up by Thierry and Marie Germain in 1991. The vineyard is spread over 61 plots, covering 28 hectares. The porous rock of this land stores humidity that is redistributed during periods of intense drought.Alternating chalky, sandy, and clay-rich soils represent a diversity of terroirs that offer infinite possibilities for the winery’s two grape varieties: Cabernet Franc and Chenin.

Domaine des Roches Neuves has been using biodynamic methods to produce its wines since 2004. Thierry Germain fine-tuned the winery’s biodynamics to fully integrate the method and adapt it to his terroir, beliefs, and profound feelings. The biodynamic approach consists of understanding the plant, reading nature and guiding, assisting, and respecting it to the greatest extent possible, thus fostering soil life. This is expressed by rolling grapevines, a continuous focus to achieve natural biodiversity rather than induced, and the partial use of animal traction.

Thierry harvests on the relatively early side to preserve fresh, vibrant fruit. His goal is to produce Cabernet with purity, finesse, and drinkability, while avoiding rusticity, vegetal character, and hard tannins. When it comes to his Chenin, he makes bone dry, high acid, mineral wines that drink like Chablis young and take on weight slowly over time. Aging takes place in large oval foudres (for the whites) and round foudres and demi-muids (for the reds) in Thierry’s frigid tuffeau cellars below his winery in Varrains. His incredibly diverse terroirs are translated with utter clarity and precision.