Domaine de Rocheville invites you to its Open Day and Picnic at the Independent Winegrower’s on Saturday 4th June 2022. Lovers of vines and wine, come and spend a day in the countryside in Parnay, in the heart of the Saumur vineyards. 

Meet the teams in the vineyards and discover the tillage

Do you have plans to visit a wine estate in the Loire Valley but haven’t found the time yet? Or you haven’t dared to push open the door of a winegrower? Then book your Saturday 4th June for our Open Day. Come and spend a pleasant moment with your family or friends in a friendly atmosphere !

You will have the opportunity to discover the work behind each bottle, from the vine to your glass, to make the wine that will delight you. 

Follow a signposted route on the Parnay plateau, close to the Wine Route (Route des Vins), between our plots of Chenin and Cabernet Franc, and meet our team of vineyard workers for a demonstration of tilllage. They will explain to you the cycle of the vine and all the steps necessary to obtain beautiful grapes, and they will share with you their passion for this demanding profession.

All along your walk, signs will also inform you about our eco-responsible philosophy, the organic farming approach, the particularities of our grape varieties and our clay-limestone soil.

You will even be able to taste one of our Saumur Champigny vieilles vignes on the plot from which it comes!

Discover the winemaking process with the cellar master

At our Parnay site, you will be welcomed into our eco-responsible cellar by Jérôme Callet, the estate manager, and a member of the wine-making team. They will show you the harvesting equipment (press, de-stemmer, sorting table…) and explain what happens to the grapes once they arrive in the winery. The harvesting process and the vinification of the vintages will no longer hold any secrets for you!

Take the opportunity to taste our organic Saumur Rosé Le Troubadour and learn all about its production.

Visit the troglodytic cellars of the estate

On the occasion of its Open House, the winery also opens its troglodytic cellars. Underneath the modern building, there are old cellars dug into the tufa rock, which were converted in 2019. The guided tour is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility and pushchairs.

Follow the guide on a cellar tour and learn all you need to know about the underground world in the Saumur region, the origin of the “troglos”, the characteristics of the soil and its impact on the vine, the making of Crémant de Loire etc.

Taste the wines of the estate with the winemaker

The Open House is of course an opportunity to discover the wines of the estate! In our large glassed-in room with a view of the vineyards or on our panoramic terrace overlooking the Parnay valley, Philippe Porché will be delighted to let you taste his wines, certified organic or Terra Vitis, in the Saumur Champigny, Saumur Rosé, Saumur Blanc and Crémant de Loire appellations.

He will tell you about the characteristics of the Chenin grape variety, emblematic of the Loire Valley, which makes up 100% of our white wines, and of the Cabernet Franc, a black grape variety originating from the Bordeaux region, which gives rise to our red and rosé wines. 

Do you need gastronomic advice to prepare a festive meal or simply to find the wine that best suits your tastes? We will be there to tell you about the particularities of the vintages served and to tell you which dishes or which type of cheese you could pair with the best food and wine.

At noon, join the picnic at the Independent Winegrower’s

Saturday 4th June is also the day of the Picnic at the Independent Winegrower’s, a national event which returns every year and in which Domaine de Rocheville likes to participate.

The principle is simple: you bring your own picnic and the winemaker provides the wine for lunch.

Sit down on a grassy plot behind the estate or sit on the terrace for a simple and convivial moment of sharing.

Terrines from a local producer will also be on sale at the estate on that day.

Do you know the Picnic at the Independent Winegrower’s ?

The Picnic at the Independent Winegrower’s was created in 2010 in order to develop wine tourism in the wine estates that belong to the network of the French Independent Winegrowers. 

For 12 years now, it has been offering wine lovers the opportunity to meet the winemaker for a day each year and to discover the skills involved in wine production. 

In all the French wine regions, this meeting is also a moment of sharing and conviviality, with visitors invited to bring their picnic for a gourmet lunch in the vineyards or on the estate. At the same time, the host winery offers wine tasting during the meal and through the many activities on offer. 

What does Independent Winegrower mean ?

In the world of wine, there are 3 categories of producers: 

8 good reasons to come to Rocheville’s Open Day

Here is the program of Saturday 4th June 2022, from 10am to 5pm.

All day, free admission :

• A tour of the vineyard plots along the wine route and a meeting with the teams about vineyard work and organic viticultural practices.
• Exhibition of agricultural machinery and wine-making equipment.
• Visit of the cellar and the troglodytic cellars, typical of the Loire Valley.
• Tasting of the vintages with commentary by the winemaker.
• Wine quiz with a prize to win! 
• Exhibition of the photographic works of Pierre Fuentès. 

From noon to 2pm

• Picnic at the Independent Winegrower’s on the terrace of the estate (free of charge, booking recommended)

And of course, Rocheville’s wines are on sale throughout the day if you want to replenish your cellar!

For more information, please contact us !