La Grapperie

La Grapperie is the project of Renaud Guettier, based in the village of Bueil-en-Touraine in France's Loire Valley. An agronomist by training, Renaud began his journey in 2004 with just half a hectare of old vines inherited from his stepfather. Since then, he has patiently built the estate by rescuing abandoned vineyard parcels, many of which are between 80 and 100 years old.
 

Today, La Grapperie spans just 6.5 hectares divided across more than 25 tiny plots planted on clay, flint, and limestone soils. These historic vineyards are farmed organically, with every vine tended by hand and biodiversity encouraged throughout the estate. For Renaud, preserving old vines means preserving the history and identity of the Loire.
 

In the cellar, the same philosophy of patience and respect continues. Grapes are harvested by hand, moved only by gravity, and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts. Nothing is added, and nothing is taken away, no fining, no filtration, and no added sulphites. The wines then rest for one to two years in old oak barrels and vats inside Renaud's remarkable cellar, carved into a former tuffeau limestone quarry.
 

The result is a collection of wines that are pure, precise, and deeply expressive of their terroir. Whether working with Chenin Blanc or the historic Pineau d'Aunis, La Grapperie crafts wines of remarkable freshness, texture, and longevity, proving that patience and old vines remain some of the greatest tools a winemaker can have.