DOMAINE FRANCOIS CHIDAINE

Domaine François Chidaine is one of the Loire Valley’s most respected producers, based in Montlouis-sur-Loire with additional vineyards in Vouvray and Touraine. Founded and run by François Chidaine and his family, the estate has become a benchmark for expressive, terroir-driven Chenin Blanc. The domaine farms around 35–45 hectares of vines, many of them old (30–90 years), across a mosaic of soils including flint, clay-limestone, and chalk, which impart great mineral depth to the wines. Chidaine has long been a pioneer of organic and biodynamic viticulture, employing low yields, cover cropping, and natural vineyard management to highlight the character of each parcel. In the cellar, the approach is equally gentle and traditional — hand harvesting, whole-bunch pressing, indigenous yeasts, fermentation in large old oak casks, and minimal intervention to preserve purity and texture. The resulting wines, whether from Montlouis or Vouvray, are renowned for their precision, balance, and longevity, offering crystalline acidity and layered minerality. The range spans from excellent value cuvées such as Le Chenin d’Ici to distinguished single-vineyard expressions like Clos Habert, Les Bornais, and Clos Baudoin. Chidaine also crafts elegant sparkling wines, including Vin de France Pétillant and Montlouis Brut Nature, which showcase the versatility of Chenin Blanc. Celebrated by critics and collectors alike, Domaine François Chidaine stands as a model of authenticity and craftsmanship, proving that the Loire’s whites can rival the world’s finest in quality and ageing potential.