Location
From the year 300, the first Roman legions settled on Blaye a Castrum to protect the entrance of the estuary of the Gironde and plant the first vines in the region.
The city being the crossing point between the north and the south of the river.
Thus the vine was planted in the region of Blaye well before it was in the Médoc, yet so close.
The renown of the vintages quickly spread to Rome: the wine estates grew quickly along the estuary coast, benefiting from dynamic and flourishing maritime transport.
Under Louis XIV, Blaye’s strategic position was confirmed by the construction of the Citadel by Vauban.
It is at this time that will be born the field of La Vernière in Saint-Vivien de Blaye on a surface of one hectare.
The eighteenth century witnessed the development of the vineyards thanks to new grape-growing experiences, optimized cultivation methods and innovative winemaking methods for the time, which brought to the wine market a new blood with a new prosperity .
The passion of the men of the soil will give to the vineyard of Blayais all its letters of nobility. And it is in the second half of the nineteenth century that the viticultural activity develops significantly opening the doors of trade with Paris, then Holland, England, Belgium, Germany and the rest of the world.
The year 1860 sees the construction of the mansion of the Domaine de la Verniere which includes a vineyard of 4 hectares.
In 1899 the current buildings will be completed, then the Domaine de La Vernière will see its vine surface reach 17 hectares.
Carte de Cassini – Blaye – France
The Vineyard
The estate La Vernière covers 22 hectares and includes 17 hectares of vineyards.
The chalky clay hillsides and the red gravelly on a subsoil of ferruginous alios bring the typicity to the wines produced.
The main grape, Merlot, brings roundness and suppleness with scents of raspberry and blackcurrant buds. The Cabernet Sauvignon, a robust grape, gives it a longer shelf life. Finally a plot of Ugny Blanc is used to produce the unique sparkling wine of the estate.
Saint-Vivien de Blaye, due to its location, enjoys a temperate climate with a high rate of hydrometry, and about 240 days of sunshine a year.
The choice of a quality viticulture
Resolutely committed to a viticulture known as “reasoned” and respectful of the environment, Our teams rigorously put these principles into practice.
The size in late guyot double is the subject of special attention. The same care is devoted to the systematic thinning of counter-buds, harvesting in green (we do not hesitate to drop the bunches) and manual leafing, so as to control yields.
Regular analyzes of bunches of grapes are carried out in August, to determine the optimal maturity of the different grape varieties and set the dates of the grape harvest accordingly.
Manually and mechanically, the harvest is severely sorted in the vineyard before going to the press or tank. After controlled fermentation in stainless steel vats, it will be vinified in oak cements and barrels for 12 months.
On the advice of an oenologist expert and the know-how of the cellar master, the wines are assembled before the bottling which takes place in the castle.
Through our rigorous work, we hope to make you discover the flavors that reflect the love of wine and the passion of the terroir.