Domaine Xavier & Agnes Amirault is the newest addition to the Vineyard Brands portfolio. We are thrilled to represent this family-owned winery.
A unique and deep history surrounds the estate, from the Maison Amirault's civic past to the cellar's ties to a race car driver.
Located in the Loire Valley, the Amirault family has lived at Le Clos de Quarterons for over 180 years. Six generations have produced wine on this land, making quality a priority.
The small village of Saint-Nicholas-de-Bourgueil is on the border between Anjou and Touraine. This area is the epitome of wine country. One-third of the village is covered in vineyards and around 100 of the less than 1,300 village inhabitants are winegrowers. Wine history in this area runs deep, with the Cabernet Franc grape first appearing in the village in 1152.
There are few places you can turn in the village without encountering a bit of wine history. What is now Maison Amirault was one of the first buildings in the village- even serving as the town hall and village school. Now the house is emblematic of the estate and the wine. On each label (for the past 180 years!) the house has featured prominently.
Le Clos de Quarterons is a 92 acre completely biodynamic vineyard. Certified organic and biodynamic, Xavier and Agnes are focused on creating wines that are truly natural. From soil to place, climate to varietal, and the know-how of the farmer, their goal is to achieve a natural balance across all 53 plots of the estate.
While the history of the cellar is not quite as ancient as that of the grape varietal, it is quite unique thanks to how the cellar changed hands. Who is the former owner? Olivier Gendebien, a famous racing driver who won Le Mans several times. Le Mans is a 24 hour (yes, a full 24 hours) race. You can find out more about that unique event here.
In the 1960s, Claude Amirault purchased a large limestone rock quarry at an auction. This quarry became a cellar, with several hundred meters of galleries allowing the estate to age the wines at a constant temperature of 13 degrees Celsius year round.
Although Cabernet Franc is the main grape variety at the estate (and in the village as a whole), Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay are also grown by the Amiraults. They produce beautiful reds, whites, and sparkling wines.
Vineyard Brands is excited to import eight wines from Domaine Xavier & Agnes Amirault: Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Le Vau Renou; Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Le Fondis; Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Le Clos Des Quarterons Vieilles Vignes; Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Les Gravilices; Crémant de Loire Amirault ; Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Les Quarterons; Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Les Quarterons Blanc; and Crémant de Loire Les Quarterons.
