Vieux Pressoir

History of Domaine du Vieux Pressoir

Domaine du Vieux Pressoir is a viticultural gem located in the heart of the Loire Valley, a region renowned for its wines of excellence. Founded over a century ago in 1892, this estate draws its origins from an ancestral winemaking tradition. Over the decades, it has been able to preserve its heritage while embracing innovation to produce wines of exceptional quality.

In 1892, the history of the Domaine began with the acquisition of a few hectares of vines by Mr. Albert, near the commune of Vaudelnay. Over 120 years of existence, Domaine du Vieux Pressoir has been able to persevere and flourish, adapting its practices to the technical developments in harvesting and winemaking, while obtaining recognition for two major AOCs: Saumur in 1936 and Saumur – Puy Notre Dame in 2009.

After being in the hands of four generations of winegrowers, the development of the Domaine has continued since 2015 under the direction of Claude Vagnon and his family. This new era combines heritage and modernity, thus perpetuating the adventure initiated by the Albert family.

In 1892, the Albert family founded a small wine estate in Vauldelnay, near Puy-Notre-Dame. This modest estate, initially comprising a few hectares, specialised primarily in the production of white wines.

In 1936, the Saumur Appellation (AOC) was officially recognised, encompassing still white wines (Chenin) and red wines (Cabernet Franc). The Albert family estate then fully committed to this new production.

In 1978, Mr. Bruno Albert took the reins of Domaine du Vieux Pressoir, becoming the fourth generation to lead this family estate.

Finally, in 2015, a new page was turned in the history of Domaine du Vieux Pressoir with the arrival of Claude Vagnon and his family at its helm, marking the beginning of a new chapter for this emblematic estate.

Terroir, Vines, Appellations and Winemaking

Nestled at the edges of the Saumurois, Domaine du Vieux Pressoir benefits from an exceptional terroir that enables it to produce wines under the Saumur and Saumur – Puy Notre Dame appellations. The climatic conditions, the natural characteristics of the landscape as well as the composition of the soil contribute to conferring a unique identity upon our wines.

The Domaine's Terroir: Covering 26 hectares, the estate is primarily planted with Chenin and Cabernet Franc on two hillsides with distinct terroirs: the Jurassic terroir and the Turonian terroir. These two soil types offer optimal drainage, thus promoting the development of the vines. The Jurassic terroir is distinguished by its hard limestone, flint clay and traces of quartz, while the upper Turonian terroir is composed of sandy-clayey chalk.

The Grape Varieties: The vineyard plots are predominantly planted with Cabernet Franc and Chenin. Cabernet Franc, thriving on clay-limestone soils, gives birth to fruity and supple wines with an appreciable ageing potential. As for Chenin, emblematic of the Val de Loire, it stands out for its capacity to reflect the minerality and character of its terroir, thus producing elegant white wines with floral and fruity aromas. The vineyard also hosts Chardonnay, perfectly suited to the production of sparkling wines and often used in blending with Chenin.

The Climate: Bathed in a mild and temperate climate influenced by the ocean, our vineyard benefits from optimal grape ripeness. Moreover, the climate limits the risk of frost, thus ensuring a stable and quality production.

The Topography: The vines, planted at an average altitude of 80 metres, are protected from spring frosts. The Mauges massif, located 40 km west of Puy-Notre-Dame, plays a crucial role in limiting rainfall and promoting perfect ripeness of the grapes, harvested between September and October.

Viticultural Practices: viticultural practices are guided by a constant attention to quality. Pruning, bud removal, leaf thinning and cover cropping between the rows are among the techniques implemented to ensure an equitable distribution of grapes, maintain production potential, promote optimal ripening and preserve the health of the vine.

In short, Domaine du Vieux Pressoir is committed to a rigorous and environmentally respectful viticultural approach, thus offering exceptional wines that reflect the full richness of its terroir. The domaine has just obtained its organic certification in 2024. The domaine will therefore produce organic wines from the 2024 vintage onwards! 

The Domaine's Cuvées

Domaine du Vieux Pressoir offers a range of refined cuvées, each one revealing the quintessence of the terroir and the expertise of its winegrowers.

Cuvée Aliénor: Perfectly ripe grapes give this cuvée a remarkably supple and rounded texture. On the palate, ageing in barrel brings toasted and vanilla nuances that blend harmoniously with the fruity richness of the wine.

Cuvée Les Silices: Les Silices is a light and fruity wine, ideal for convivial moments of sharing. The gentle and progressive winemaking extracts just the right amount from the grape material to achieve a perfect balance, combining character and softness.

Cuvée Élégance: Crafted from the Chenin grape variety, Élégance is a wine that is both floral and structured, revealing a delicate fruitiness and remarkable aromatic complexity. Its harmonious aromatic palette is dominated by notes of white flowers. On the palate, it reveals itself as supple from the first attack, then opens onto an ample and unctuous texture, supported by a subtle acidity that brings freshness and length to the finish.

Cuvée Origine: This Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame is the result of a rigorous selection of plots from our most prestigious terroirs. Cabernet Franc thus expresses its full aromatic complexity. This structured wine presents velvety tannins that allow intense aromas of red and black fruits to express themselves, with a persistent finish characteristic of great wines for ageing.

Discover the cuvées of Domaine du Vieux Pressoir on Vins & Millésimes as well as many other great Loire estates across numerous vintages, including: Alphonse Mellot, Bernard Baudry, Charles Joguet, Gérard Boulay, Minchin, Philippe Alliet, Vincent Gaudry and many more!