Fine creamy bubbles with baked peaches, clementine, peach yoghurt and a touch of hazelnut and almond. Crisp, clean with a touch of green apple tartness. Hand harvested and selected grapes are vinified in steel cuves before being bottled and made according to the Traditional Method. Aged on the lees for 12 months with a dosage of 7gms/ltr.

Formed in 1973, Pierre Chainier is both a négociant and the owner of some 250 hectares of vines in the heart of Touraine, from which it sources classic Loire varieties. Its eight Touraine estates include Domaine de la Bruyère in the newly established appellation of Touraine-Chenonceaux. Conversely, Clos de Nouys, its 25 acre Vouvray estate, is one of the oldest in the appellation. Here, vines average 35 years of age in vineyards that were already listed amongst the best sites on geological maps dating from 1907. For both its négociant arm and its own vineyards, Pierre Chainier seamlessly blends the principles of reasoned agriculture with the most modern winemaking techniques. It encourages sustainable development and official certification for its growers, it uses sugar cane-derived biodegradable “corks”, and it has a comprehensive waste recycling programme. Lighting is changed to LED and they are currently calculating their carbon footprint.