Histoire of Saumur Brut


WITH A STRONG ANCESTRAL WINEMAKING HISTORY, SAUMUR IS ONE OF THE OLDEST WINE REGIONS IN FRANCE.
 

 

The history of the Loire and its wine is inseparable from the history of France.

Its origins go back to the end of the 3rd century when the Roman Emperor Probus planted the first vines in the region of Saumur, although it is only around the 5th century that the cultivation of vines really started in the Loire Valley.
During the course of the following centuries, the Augustine and Benedictine monks had a dominating influence on the development of the various vineyards.

Then came times of discovery and passion, and it is only during the 18th century that Saumur wines will really become appreciated and sought after.

 
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This is the period when the Dutch established trading posts on the banks of the Loire and began exporting the precious sparkling wines of Saumur around the world. The wines were loaded onto river barges, safer than transporting by road, and sent to the city of Nantes before being shipped abroad.

 

Enjoyed by all, Saumur Brut quickly gained unanimous acclaim. From pubs and taverns to French and foreign palaces, the wines amazed and seduced all, including not only kings Saint-Louis, Louis XIV and Edward VII but also great figures from French history: Rabelais, Ronsard and Balzac praised its qualities.

 

Since its foundation in 1851, Bouvet-Ladubay has been a true historical monument to the Loire Valley sparkling wines. Through over 160 years of history and passion, the winery has developed more than 20 different blends with an unrivalled knowledge and always under its founder Etienne Bouvet's original motto, "l'Excellence".

 

 

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Our Terroir


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THE REGION OF SAUMUR, KNOWN AS THE GARDEN OF FRANCE, IS A REGION OF PEACEFUL CHARM, MILDNESS AND HARMONY.

The Loire Valley, France's 3rd largest wine-producing region, has been registered on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites since 2000. It is a geographical patchwork of several regions (Centre Loire, Touraine, Anjou and Saumur) and of many appellations, all having the Loire river in common. This is where the famous saying comes from: "Val de Loire, tous les vins sont dans sa nature." (Loire Valley, all the wines are in its nature).

 

 

The Loire, the climate

The Loire is the longest river in France and the last "wild" river in Europe. In our region it is lined with hills of "tuffeau" limestone. The Loire and its numerous tributaries are playing a considerable role in the production of our quality wines offering a multitude of microclimates and varied soils, which improves the growing of the vines, the quality of the grapes and also contributes to the great diversity of the wines. The climate of the Loire Valley is mostly temperate, with some continental influence felt between Saumur and Touraine. The oceanic flows are gradually stopped here by the contours of the bordering hills of the landscape.

This is what we call "la douceur angevine" (the mildness of Anjou).

 

The terroir, The vineyards

THE VINEYARDS OF SAUMUR BRUT STRETCH OVER SOME 1,500 HECTARES.

The vineyards of Saumur are located on two lines of hillsides. The first, on the left bank of the Loire river, vineyards on hillsides stretch from Montsoreau all the way up to Saumur and secondly, on the left bank of the Thouet river, from Montreuil-Bellay to Saint-Hilaire Saint-Florent.

The distinctive nature of the landscape of Saumur originates from clay and limestone soil with the underlying 'tuffeau' stone. This chalky stone, dating back over 100 million years, has the ability to absorb the winter rains and release them slowly during periods of dryness. Therefore the vine receives a slow but regular hydration which is necessary for the perfect maturing of the grapes. Another quality of this unique terroir is its strong ability to store the sun's heat during the day and release its warmth at night.

This 'tuffeau' stone was used to build the castles of the Loire Valley, and our cellars are the ancient quarries of this stone giving us the perfect environment for the aging of our fine wines.

 

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Loire Valley grape varieties

The Brut de Loire wines of Bouvet-Ladubay are made from 3 varieties:

Chenin Blanc

Long before the Roman conquest, the Chenin Blanc was known in the Loire Valley as "Pineau de la Loire". It was Rabelais, a major French Renaissance writer, humanist, doctor and Greek scholar, who popularised its current name in the 14th century. Over the centuries it became the noble grape variety "par excellence" and the most widespread varietal planted in the Loire Valley.

It produces a wine pale yellow in colour with green highlights and develops a fine, fruity aroma of white and yellow fruit, balanced on the palate, becoming rich with some aging.

Chardonnay

Originally from Burgundy, Chardonnay is the best known white grape variety in the world. Its establishment in Saumur is more recent. The grape is bright and golden. On chalky soils, it produces a deep and solid wine, traditionally dry, and amongst the finest of all white wines.

Cabernet Franc

The most widely planted red grape variety in the Loire, its establishment goes back to the 11th century. 
It is distinguished by elegant raspberry, spicy, and sweet pepper aromas and has great structure and aging potential. It is characterised by a deep red colour; on the nose it reveals aromas of ripe red fruits with vegetal and wild flower notes.

[Source: Rencontre avec le Saumur Brut]