The wine-growing terroir is not just a matter of geological data. It is a complex notion which combines, in a geographical area, the landscape, homogeneous climatic conditions, the type of soil and know-how, all of which give a wine its specificity.
The Domaine de Rocheville enjoys a privileged geographical location in the Loire Valley, classified since 2000 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and at the heart of one of the most renowned Loire appellations: l’AOC Saumur Champigny.
This small appellation, renowned for its red wines, extends over only nine villages. Parnay, located halfway between Tours and Angers, on the famous Greenwich meridian, is one of them.
It is blessed by the gods because it enjoys a terroir and a microclimate that is particularly protected by the Fontevraud forest to the south-east, the Loire to the north-east and the Thouet to the west.
In Parnay, on the hillside, the rainfall is one of the lowest in the region with an average of 600 mm per year. In comparison, Angers, 40 km away, receives 850 mm/year and Cholet, 60 km away, has an average of 950 mm/year. The Rocheville vineyards therefore benefit from a particularly hot and dry climate for the Loire Valley.
