Domaine des Pothiers

About

Owner & winemaker: Romain Paire
Vineyards: 23 ha across 15 parcels, 90% estate-owned, 10% rented & estate-farmed
Vineyard management: Certified organic and biodynamic
Soils: Granite (ancient volcanic rocks)
Grapes grown: Gamay St Romain, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Négrette
Annual production: 140,000 bottles

Quick facts:

• The domaine has been in the family since before the 16th century.
• Gamay St Romain is a unique variation of Gamay found almost exclusively in the Côte Roannaise–it ripens slightly later and has subtle peppery notes.
• The rocky granite soils are the result of volcanic activity 400 million years ago.

Romain Paire took the reins at Domaine des Pothiers in 2005, but he’d known he wanted to make wine since he was a child–no surprise considering the estate has been in his family for five centuries and counting. The domaine’s 23ha of vineyards are in the southern part of the lesser-known Côte Roannaise appellation at the far western end of the Loire Valley, where the continental climate, altitude (400-600m), and rocky granite soils are perhaps more reminiscent of Beaujolais than the rest of the Loire. Romain is passionate about making wine that best reflects his terroir, showcasing the minerality of the granite soils, the freshness of the altitude, and the purity of the fruit. He achieves this through gentle extraction, native yeast fermentation, and low intervention winemaking with no additions. Most of all, he hopes that those who drink his wine are inspired to see the landscape where the grapes are grown… and to pour themselves another glass!