Domaine de la Bergerie
Anne and Marie Guégniard
About
Owners & winemakers: Anne and Marie Guégniard
Vineyards: 35 ha across ten parcels, all estate-owned
Vineyard management: Certified organic
Soils: Various, on a base of schist
Grapes grown: Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Grolleau
Annual production: 120,000 bottles
Quick facts:
- Sisters Anne and Marie are the eighth generation of their family to make wine.
- Their vineyards in Anjou are defined by the unique schist bedrock soils.
- “The nature that surrounds us inspires us every day. We hope that this inspiration comes through in our wines.” – Anne & Marie Guégniard
Anne and Marie Guégniard represent the eighth generation of winemakers in their family. Their great-grandmother acquired Domaine de la Bergerie in 1961, then passed it on to her daughter. Anne and Marie’s father, Yves, took charge in 1979 and expanded the domaine, adding new parcels in new terroirs. Anne joined him in 2010 and began the transition to organic agriculture. Marie joined Anne in 2018, and together they have embarked upon a new chapter, deepening their understanding of the terroirs and the grapes in order to bring out their best.
Their vineyards in Anjou are on schist bedrock: a soil that gives tremendous character and uniqueness to the wines, but at the price of a great deal of effort. These soils retain very little water, which can generate the stress the vines need to produce complex and concentrated fruit, but it also requires the vigneronnes to adapt at every moment, changing their practices to make sure that the vines don’t suffer too much and that the grapes arrive at a perfect degree of ripeness.
Anne and Marie describe their principal grape, Chenin Blanc, as a “mirror” of the soil in which it grows. It is therefore extremely important to them to work with the maximum respect for their terroir, in order to allow it to fully express itself in their wines. Each cuvée is vinified and aged so that the character of the terroir shines through above all else.
