Domaine Catherine & Pierre Breton

Now in its fifth generation, the Breton family has been anchored in the Loire since 1886. They practise organic and biodynamic agriculture between the Loire and Vienne rivers, making Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc wines from the Bourgueil, Chinon and Vouvray appellations. Their wines are the result of terroir, conscientious teamwork, and artisanal savoir-faire.
Their vineyard in Bourgueil enjoys a temperate climate – exactly what Cabernet Franc, a late-developing varietal, needs. In Bourgueil they have different types of soils. Soils of ancient alluvium called “Galuches” or “les Galichets,” calcareous soils, and clay-flintstone soils called “les Perrières.”
In the appellation of Chinon, the soils are chalky calcareous “tuffs” in the Beaumont-en-Véron municipality.
In the appellation of Vouvray, the soils are a blend of clay and flintstone in the Vernou-sur-Brenne and Chancay municipalities.
Harvest is completed by hand at the point of maturity of the grapes, and with a meticulous selection and vinification follows exclusively with indigenous and natural yeasts. Their wines are not filtered, and no sulphites are added during the fermentations; only minimal sulphur at bottling. The red wines contain less than 20 mg/l of SO2 total and the whites contain less than 50 mg/l.

1985 Pierre leaves the co-op of Bourgueil and vinifies his first vintage independently
1989 Catherine and Pierre add 6 hectares of Chinon to their vineyard holdings
1990 They cultivate the entire property organically and biodynamically
1994 First cuvée made without a drop of sulphur: Nuit d’ivresse 1994
2002 Catherine makes her first Vouvray under the label La Dilettante
2008 Opening of the wine cellar « La Dilettante » in l'Ile d'Yeu
2016 Catherine and Pierre’s son, Paul joins them in the vineyards of Vouvray and makes his first vintage, “Pierres Rousses”
2018 Their daughter, France straps on her boots and opens “La Cuverie” in Bourgueil