Château de Fosse-Sèche, Adrien and Guillaume Pire: bioversity activists in the Saumur vineyards

Adrien and Guillaume are nature enthusiasts. And for good reason: as children, the jungle was their playground. "Our father was an agronomist specializing in hydraulics in West Africa, and our mother's second husband was a winemaker in Madagascar. We spent our childhood between these two parts of Africa," Adrien recounts. "Such a childhood leaves its mark," comments Guillaume, who considers his parents gave him "the greatest gift."

Available directly from the estate on Avenue des Vins.

What is the story behind the estate?

A family vineyard in the heart of Saumur

These marks are still evident decades later at Château de Fosse-Sèche, a family-owned vineyard taken over by Adrien and Guillaume's stepfather in 1998. Located in the heart of the Saumur appellation, Château de Fosse-Sèche is one of the oldest French wine estates. Spanning 45 hectares, including 15 hectares of vines, the vineyard is situated within a protected agricultural natural area. Surrounded by a green enclosure and flanked by two large forests, this idyllic setting and abundance of nature motivated the two brothers to take over the management of the estate in 2012.

How do the brothers approach viticulture?

"The Wine Industry Needs a Revolution!"

Guillaume and Adrien's ambitious project is to place the concept of life at the heart of their profession. This approach begins with studying biodiversity and preserving the surrounding environment.

Viticulture is too often practiced with purely profit-driven goals. The wine industry needs a revolution!

asserts Guillaume. As members of the International Biodynamic Winegrowers Association Biodyvin, Château de Fosse-Sèche cultivates all its vines biodynamically.

But our approach goes far beyond biodynamic viticulture,

the brothers emphasize, also closely studying the reproduction of birds, insects, bats, and amphibians.

Let's say we dedicate 30 hectares to biodiversity for 15 hectares of vines,

summarizes Guillaume, who believes that effective biodynamic cultivation can only be achieved in a vineyard where biodiversity is preserved.

Practicing this type of cultivation wouldn't make much sense in a vineyard squeezed between two highways with nonexistent flora and fauna,

adds the winemaker.

What wines does the estate produce?

Wines "Without Makeup"

Naturally committed to quality, the two winemakers produce two cuvées per year: Éolithe and Arcane. The former is a red wine made from cabernet franc. As the flagship wine of the estate, it represents 60% of Château de Fosse-Sèche's production. The Arcane cuvée, on the other hand, is a single-variety white made from chenin.

Our wines are not sprinters but marathon runners: they don't run 100 meters but 10,000 meters, their length in the mouth is incredible!

exclaims Guillaume. The winemakers also strive to maintain authenticity. To achieve this, they age their wines in oval-shaped concrete tanks and avoid wooden barrels to produce "unadorned wines," as Guillaume likes to call them.

I want the terroirs and soil typicity to be recognizable. We create pure wines without altering their true nature. It's like a chef who chooses to grill scallops with a drizzle of olive oil to enhance them rather than drowning them in cream.

How does the estate welcome visitors?

A restaurant in Montreuil-Bellay with a waterside terrace

Open 365 days a year, including Christmas and New Year's Day, Château de Fosse-Sèche warmly welcomes visitors for a tour of the estate and wine tasting.

There are plants everywhere, but no walls,

joke the Pire brothers. Recently, Adrien and Guillaume (along with three of their friends) also acquired a restaurant with a terrace by the water in Montreuil-Bellay, a medieval town in Maine-et-Loire. Their specialty? A wine list featuring the very first vintages from young winemakers in the region as well as cuvées from renowned winemakers in France and around the world…

Discover the wines of Château de Fosse-Sèche directly from the estate, at the estate price, in a short supply chain on Avenue des Vins.

Frequently asked questions about Château de Fosse-Sèche

Where is Château de Fosse-Sèche located?

The estate lies in the Saumur appellation, in the Loire Valley. Its 45 hectares sit within a protected natural area, ringed by a green enclosure and framed by two forests.

What wines does Château de Fosse-Sèche make?

The estate bottles two cuvées each year. Éolithe, a cabernet franc red, accounts for roughly 60% of output, while Arcane is a white made solely from chenin.

Does Château de Fosse-Sèche farm biodynamically?

Yes. Every vine is worked biodynamically and the estate belongs to the Biodyvin association. The commitment runs deeper still, with 30 hectares kept for wildlife against just 15 planted to vines.

Why are the wines called 'without makeup'?

The Pire brothers vinify in egg-shaped concrete vats rather than wooden barrels. The aim is to keep the soil's character and a clean, honest texture, free of any oaky gloss.

Can you visit the estate?

Château de Fosse-Sèche welcomes visitors all year for a walk through the grounds and a tasting. The brothers also run a waterside restaurant they opened in Montreuil-Bellay.