Château Gaillard, Loire

The Château Gaillard extends along the northern bank of the Loire between Amboise and Blois, in the heart of the Touraine/Mesland AOC growing area.

The mild winters, sunny autumns and moderate summer warmth of the semi-oceanic climate have allowed native varieties and those introduced over history to thrive here since Roman times. Well-drained limestone, tuff, clay and flint soils provide Château Gaillard’s wines with their essential variations, while biodynamic farming allows the vines to root deeply in healthy soil.

Since 1978, winegrower Vincent Girault has ensured that his wines express the authenticity of their terroir. Wine lovers know Vincent as a passionate, tradition-conscious grower who has carried the Demeter biodynamic label from conviction since 1992. Vincent understands his craft and sees himself as responsible for continuing quality-focused winegrowing at his estate, which looks back on a significant history.

For Vincent, winegrowing resembles building a four-sided pyramid: terroir (soil and subsoil), climate, grape variety and farming practice. The winegrower is the architect, who must recognise that the pyramid's sides are not all equally important. Terroir in particular, and the grape variety that depends on it, determine the outcome. Vincent is convinced that there can be no outstanding wines without great terroir, and that good wine requires sensible, responsible agriculture. “No great wine without great terroir; no good wine without sensible, responsible agriculture.” Vincent Girault