Domaine aux Moines: discover the feminine side of the vine!
Just outside Angers, Monique and Tessa Laroche cultivate their feminine sensibility at Domaine aux Moines, producing white wines quite unlike any others that delight even at great Parisian restaurants. They gladly welcome visitors to their Savennières domaine...
Le Domaine aux Moines, perched on a rocky outcrop
Once through the imposing green entrance gates, an elegant 18th century bourgeois home, with salmon-coloured walls, is revealed, evocative of a small château. It is surrounded by vines that flourish on soil that is a combination of schist and volcanic rock. "We are perched on a rocky outcrop," explains Tessa Laroche, catching her breath. "Just look, this is an amazing location, you can see the Loire, the wonderful little village of Béhuard and even the Coteaux du Layon at the same time."
White wines prized by the greatest chefs
Above all this quiet site has the perfect orientation, allowing exceptional white wines to be produced biodynamically, wines worshipped by the greatest chefs in Paris. Alain Passard at L'Arpège, Guy Savoy at La Monnaie de Paris, and Yannick Alléno at the Pavillon Ledoyen are just three such names! Is it the female touch that gives these Savennières and Anjou Villages their incomparable delicacy and elegant minerality? "I think that we have a different sensibility to men," Tessa Laroche replies.
A must-visit estate in Savennières
To be convinced, one only need meet these two passionate women, who gladly accept visits by appointment. This is an opportunity to wander among the vines with the mother or daughter, enjoy a tasting and, as a bonus, discover the site's magnificent French-style garden, meticulously maintained by the pair. At the end of this delicious escape, we recommend treating yourself to a bottle so you can open a bottle of the same wine offered in the capital's three-star restaurants, in the comfort of your own home!
