Located in Anjou in the heart of the Loire Valley, Domaine de la Petite Roche is owned by the Regnard family, who has been growing vines there since the French Revolution. Today, the 83-hectare estate is owned by Gwenaëlle Regnard and managed by Anjou native Antoine Poupard. The Chenin Blanc vines are grown in schist and limestone soils which benefit from the cool maritime climate of the region. In 2019, Domaine de la Petite Roche received HVE Certification (Haute Valeur Environnementale or High Environmental Value) from the French Ministry of Agriculture. This three-tiered system is a sustainability initiative that encourages farms and vineyards to increase biodiversity, decrease the negative environmental impact of their pesticide/herbicide use, manage their fertilizer inputs and improve their water management. Once an estate completes each of the three, increasingly stringent tiers, they are awarded certification.

Domaine de la Petite Roche's Origine Anjou Blanc is made from 100% Chenin Blanc that was fermented and aged in concrete eggs, which helps highlight the textural complexity and purity of fruit flavors of this beautiful Loire white. Light gold in the glass, the wine emits mesmerizing aromas of ripe pear, quince, fresh honeycomb, and floral blossoms. On the palate, this Chenin delivers power, depth and length, tinged with a saline minerality and added flavors of baked orchard fruits and persimmon that complement the rich texture and vibrant acidity. I simply adore how the wine evolves in the glass and on the palate: each swirl and sniff teases out a new scent, and each sip accents a new flavor, making the wine enticing and exciting from when you first pop the cork to final draught. This is a stunning wine, a perfect example of the richness and energy found in the Chenin Blancs of Anjou. Enjoy with seared scallops over a ginger cucumber salad, crab cakes served with a turnip and cabbage slaw or pan-roasted chicken in cream sauce.