Château du Bourg Joly
70 route du Bourg Joly, 79290 Saint-Martin-de-Sanzay
« Château du Bourg Joly stands among the most captivating and deeply personal vineyard revivals on the southern edge of the Anjou and Saumur wine country. Patience and… »
About the Winery
Château du Bourg Joly stands among the most captivating and deeply personal vineyard revivals on the southern edge of the Anjou and Saumur wine country. Patience and high standards guide Inessa Grouvel Varchavskaia and Menno Grouvel, who favor low-yield precision over volume across their east-facing gravel-and-clay slopes over Cenomanian marl. From the opening aroma of Cuvée Sakura, pure unmanipulated Chenin Blanc captivates with crisp citrus zest, white blossom notes, and a brisk saline backbone honed by gentle barrel aging on fine lees. With Cuvée Pensées, eighteen months in oak shape a rounder, stony palate tailor-made for roast farm poultry in cream sauce or delicate river fish. Among the reds, natural Cabernet Franc in Pivoines and Violettes eschews harsh extraction in favor of velvety dark cherry, crushed violet, and soft spice nuances already recognized by two Ligers silver medals. Worth cellaring three to seven years, this hidden gem seamlessly blends certified organic integrity, architectural heritage, and musical grace.
Visiting the Winery
Featured Wines
Rooted in clay-limestone fluvial deposits laced with siliceous gravel over Cenomanian marl, the six hectares at Château du Bourg Joly yield expressive dry still wines crafted with minimal cellar intervention. Old-vine Chenin Blanc from estate massal selections shines under the Anjou Blanc appellation in two distinct bottlings: Sakura, whole-cluster pressed without added sulfites and aged six to eight months on fine lees in oak barrels, delivers crystalline citrus energy, whereas Pensées extends barrel aging beyond eighteen months for broader texture and chalky mineral depth. On the red side, natural Cabernet Franc fermentations relying solely on native yeasts produce Pivoines, an inviting Anjou Rouge awarded silver at the Ligers competition, and Violettes, an ageworthy, silk-textured cuvée honored with silver at Ligers 2024, alongside Rosé du Bourg Joly in IGP Val de Loire.
Organic wine
Activities
Visits at Château du Bourg Joly cultivate an intimate, cultural atmosphere strictly by prior appointment with the owners. Guests are welcomed inside the restored original press house before descending into the monumental semi-underground limestone and tuffeau cellar dated 1836, followed by a guided walk among the organic Chenin and Cabernet Franc rows framed by biodiversity hedgerows. The experience unfolds through the three-hectare botanical park filled with prized peony collections, heirloom roses, and rare trees, often accompanied by the estate's friendly schnauzers. Private classical piano recitals centered around the château Steinway grand piano also enliven the warmer months upon reservation. Travelers wishing to linger overnight can stay at Le Logis du Bourg Joly, a stone guesthouse nestled in the former farmstead beside the vines, with warm hospitality offered in French, English, and Russian.
