Our history

The story begins in September 1992

Sylvie and Christian, a very young couple, settled in the Moulin de Chauvigné with only 3 hectares of vines in Savennières and Rochefort-sur-Loire. The beginnings are difficult. They have to build a cellar, buy equipment and build up a clientele.

1993

From the first moments, the roles are well defined: Christian will work in the vineyards and Sylvie will make the vinification.


 
 

1995

Over time, they manage to retain an ever-growing clientele and open up to other markets in France, but also to export.

1998

The demand is such that Sylvie and Christian continue to enlarge the buildings as well as the vineyard area to reach the 10 hectares.

 


 

 
 

2000

To celebrate their marriage, Christian and Sylvie create the Anjou Fines Bulles Rosé cuvée, the beautiful union of Gamay and Grolleau. A cuvée that will become Timeless. Since that day, each cuvée, whether Original, Timeless or Spiritual, tells a story intimately linked to the estate. 

 

2003 

The year of the heat wave. 
In Anjou, the vines did not suffer from the drought thanks to 50 mm of rain on July 14 and again on August 15, luckily, without damage.
For the first time since the installation, the harvest begins in August, before the start of the school year. Never seen before!
Now, since 2003, the harvest often begins at the end of August, beginning of September. Grapes are higher in sugar and less acidic. Often a large part of the harvest is returned to the cellar whereas previously the harvest was just beginning. 

2011

That year, a storage cellar emerged from the ground. The interest is to let the wines rest in a cool and dark atmosphere before arriving on your tables. A perfect place  to keep wines in the best condition! 

2016

Sylvie and Christian have already 25 years of activity and 13 hectares of vines.

7 hectares in the Savennières appellation and 6 hectares in Rochefort-sur-Loire in the Coteaux du Layon, Rosé de Loire, Anjou, Anjou Fines Bulles appellation and many others thanks to a wide range of grape varieties. 

An undeniable success!

But the desire to live other adventures is very present. After several months of reflection, they made the decision to put the vineyard up for sale.

2017 

After a few years of difficult weather conditions and intense stress, the nasty frosts of late April hit their estate and those of their neighbors to reduce their harvests by 50%. 

It was from this painful experience that the Sensoristic Trail. An idea from Sylvie, who wants above all to communicate positively. 

November 22nd in the morning, the vineyard is officially on sale. 

But tragically, that same day, Christian died suddenly of a cardiac arrest when he had just turned 51. For all his family, friends and colleagues, his departure is extremely violent. 

Without Christian, Sylvie does not project herself into the future and their adventure project for two ended with him. Despite everything, she decides to withdraw the vineyard from sale and continue the operation in her memory.

 
 

2018

The organization and distribution of work are to be completely reconsidered. In a very short time, Sylvie was able to show her professionalism by surrounding herself with the best service providers and advisers to run the estate and keep the vineyard beautiful and healthy, as Christian liked to see it. She continues to do the vinification herself with passion. The arrival at the estate of the youngest of their daughters, Manon, who has exercised her pastry talents at the Savoy, a famous 5-star hotel in London, marks a brand new start.

 
 

2019

Obtaining HVE level 3 (High Environmental Value) by Sylvie acts what was done before by Christian in the vineyards. That is to say a high level of biodiversity and a very low use of inputs. Even if the HVE is a recent device, it nevertheless remains dynamic with just over 2,200 certified farms, everywhere in France in 2019.

That same year, we made two plantations, with high stems, in Savennières and Rochefort. This new planting system represents many advantages for the work of the vineyard. 

The future

After going through several hardships, Sylvie aspires to a better future and wishes wholeheartedly to continue alongside her daughter, Manon, who is already well invested in the family business. 

It is also thanks to you, dear ambassadors of Les Cuvées des Elles, that the family estate continues and we thank you warmly.