FRANCOIS et JULIEN PINON

Established in 1786, the estate has been built up over the last seven generations and now covers 37 acres. The vineyard is situated 5 kilometers North-East of Vouvray, in the Cousse valley. The diversity of our wine is due to the rich variety of soils (mostly clay and flint), the various sun exposures and the age of the vines.
In 1987, François PINON, former child psychologist, took over the family estate from his father. Combining traditional techniques (such as short pruning, working the soil and low yields) with the latest technology, François emphasized ecologically friendly vineyards and cellar practices. His son Julien is now the winemaker and operator of the winery and estate following in his father’s footsteps.

The Estate encompasses 15 hectares of vines. They are not all in one piece but spread over about fifteen plots located on the slopes of the Cousse Valley (see map below). This makes it possible to benefit from a great diversity of soils, exposures, age of the vines and to limit the consequences of climatic damage (frost, hail, etc.).

The winery cultivates every single plot which have not undergone any land consolidation. The vineyards are from 3 years to 70 years old and all in traditional plantations.

Since the Spring of 2003, and in order to bring out the character of the terroir, the estate has been operating according to the principles of organic agriculture (Ecocert certification):

– Creation of a living soil, rich in microbial life, without the use of pesticides and weedkillers

– Reinforcement of the plants’ resistance to diseases, thanks to working the soil mechanically

– Minimal use of organic manure

– Use of organic treatments in the lowest possible doses, in order to preserve fauna that will help the development of both the leaves and the grapes.