Our vineyards

Vineyards

J. de Villebois is a fascinating journey along the banks of the Loire.

Through each stage of this journey, and dependent on the parcel, its soil and exposure, our winemakers who cultivate it and the traditions encompassed by it, one single varietal takes center stage and that is the Sauvignon Blanc grape.

From the hillsides of the Cher region to the vine parcels of Sologne and Touraine, without forgetting the foothills of Sancerre, this varietal shows itself to be as magnificent as the regal river that runs alongside the domain’s vines: alive, energetic, unpredictable, and majestic.

J. de Villebois is a tribute to the Sauvignon Blanc grape.

The appellations and winegrower

Terroir is that very mystical French word that describes a sense of place of a certain area…however small the area. The aggregate combination of soil, climate, grape variety topography and even man’s influence over the ages.
Every day the team at Domaine J. de Villebois is grateful for the work carried out by our ancestors to protect the peculiarities of the terroir through the creation of the protected designation of origin system (Appellation d’Origine Protegée). We are convinced that the mastery of a terroir can only be fully understood and explored by people who live in harmony with their environment. Each of our vineyards is cultivated with passion by a winemaker and a team who observes, lives and breathes the interaction between the soils and the floral diversity. Being as close as possible to nature means being able to capture the soul of the land. Every bottle is a representation, telling a story about the land and the people who work it.

Terroir

As to give an even richer and more renewed expression to the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety, J. de Villebois has put together a collection of selected terroirs. These terroirs run along the Loire. It gets its changing character, its richness and its history from this river.

To encapsulate this special spirit where the wines saw light, J. de Villebois undertook a thorough analysis of the soils, to ascertain the best conditions where the vines can grow.

Firstly, on the river Cher hillsides, with its plateaus rising to 120 metres, then in Touraine. They are being so diverse by nature, with its perrucheous bournais, its parakeets, its aubuis and its gravel. In the Centre-Loire region, in the heart of France, other names come to mind first those of the appellations that have made the world go round, whether it be Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, but also Menetou-Salon and Quincy. There, sometimes up to 300 meters in altitude, it is the limestone, clay, flint and Kimmeridgian marl that stand out. Our winegrowers know all too well the importance of time and not to ignore that the stones of their land, before them and with them, create these great wines.

The ‘Sustainable winegrowing’ label

Our mission is, focused and sharp. Therefore J. de Villebois was rewarded with the ‘Sustainable Winegrowing’ acknowledgement.

We consider the soils, the vines and the men and women who cultivate them to be intrinsically linked and we therefore strive to respect every single stage of the winemaking process. Whether that be cultivation or harvesting, processing, or tasting, every single link in the process of creation is highly considered.

Coupled with an unwavering commitment to taking care of each other and supporting each other, our teams cherish the Loire region in a sustainable manner to honor its terroir.

Team

Regular team trainings
Team spirit development through internal events
Creation of a quality manager position
Assigned tasks to local partners and Employment Services

Earth

Sorting and rigorous management of waste
Wastewater collection and treatment by the local collective plant
Use of rainwater to clean vineyard equipments

Environment

Supporting biodiversity
Installation of bat nesting boxes
Installation of beehives in the vineyard
Planting of hedges and fruit trees around the vineyard

Working tools

Hoeing of plots to reduce the use of phytosanitary products
Use of improved ergonomic equipments in all departments of the wine estate