Domaine aux Moines - Tessa Laroche
🌿 History and Heritage
First vines: Planted in the 12th century by the monks of the Abbey of Saint-Nicolas.
1981: Monique Laroche acquired the estate and developed it with passion. Her daughter Tessa Laroche gradually took over in the 2000s and today ensures its direction.
The estate has become a feminine reference in the Loire vineyard, combining tradition and modernity.
🍇 Vineyard and Terroir
Surface Area: About 10 to 12 hectares of vines, exclusively Chenin Blanc.
Location: Hillsides of Roche aux Moines, on the right bank of the Loire, facing south-southwest.
Soils: Schist, purple sandstone, and rhyolite, giving the wines minerality and great aging potential.
Average Vine Age: Around 38 years.
🌱 Philosophy and Practices
Conversion to organic farming began in 2009, certified in 2017.
Progressive introduction of biodynamics, with careful work on soils and vines to respect natural balance.
Manual harvests and natural vinifications, favoring the pure expression of the terroir.