Domaine des Ruaults: wines of pleasure in the heart of the Saumurois region

Michel Faivre-Lepilleur and his wife currently care for the 15 hectares of the Domaine des Ruaults using traditional cultivation methods. We meet this passionate couple.

What led you to take over a vineyard?

A successful career change

Michel Faivre-Lepilleur has worked for many years in the export IT solutions sector. With his wife working in marketing, they were looking for a second career.

After some thought, given our agricultural origins and our desire to return to the land, taking over a vineyard became an obvious choice,

Michel Faivre-Lepilleur explains.

We looked around the Loire Valley for a while, then discovered the Domaine des Ruaults and immediately fell in love with it,

he continues. The estate, as it stands today, is the result of four generations of winemakers. It features 15 hectares of Chenin, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay vines spread over about twenty plots around the village of Chavannes, in the largest commune of Saumurois, Puy-Notre-Dame. This variety of terroirs adds complexity to the estate's wines. The commune of Puy-Notre-Dame, home to the Plantagenets and Eleanor of Aquitaine, has a rich viticultural history dating back to the 12th century.

How do you work the vines today?

Learning the trade and respecting the land

Since taking over the estate three years ago, Michel and his wife have been training as winemakers. To support and guide them, they have assembled a team of professionals, including a vineyard manager and a consulting oenologist. Their goal? To produce high-quality pleasure wines that reflect their terroir. Very respectful of the environment, Michel and his wife are adopting cultivation methods that minimize chemical inputs and opting for sustainable viticulture. Additionally, this year they are completely renovating their winery to accommodate the future harvest. They also have a storage cellar, a troglodyte cave from the Middle Ages. Indeed, during the medieval period, the people of Saumur, who lived from extracting tuffeau (a type of limestone also known as "stone of light"), built troglodyte dwellings.

What wines does the estate produce?

"Pleasure" wines

Today, the Faivre-Lepilleur couple has developed several cuvées, including a white wine in AOC Saumur, rosé wines in AOC Cabernet d'Anjou, and sparkling Saumur wines. But they do not intend to stop there. They are currently working on new cuvées in AOC Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame. This AOC was officially recognized as an appellation in 2008. The most important thing for them is to always remember that their cuvées should be pleasure wines. Michel recalls a famous quote by Jean Cocteau, a sort of motto at Domaine des Ruaults, which sums up their philosophy:

Nothing is more serious than pleasure.

With this in mind, they created a 100% Chenin white wine, the king grape of the Loire Valley. Aged in tank to preserve its fruitiness, this white wine with a fresh and balanced mouthfeel is appealing with its aromas of white fruits and flowers. It pairs well with seafood, fish, white meats, and goat cheese.

Their Elégance cuvée in AOC Cabernet d'Anjou is a tender and indulgent rosé that surprises with its freshness and softness, distinguishing it from other rosés. Its very slightly sweet and fruity notes perfectly accompany exotic sweet-and-sour cuisine, white meats, or fruit desserts.

In a different style, the Faivre-Lepilleur couple also offers sparkling wines for festive moments, such as their Saumur Brut Blanc cuvée, a blend of Chenin and Chardonnay. This sparkling wine, made using the traditional method, reveals flavors of white fruits, hazelnuts, and almonds on the palate. An ideal companion for aperitifs, it also pairs pleasantly with seafood and shellfish. Its finesse, freshness, and fine bubbles will surely enchant you!

If you’re traveling through the Loire Valley, you now know where to stop!

Frequently asked questions about Domaine des Ruaults

Where is Domaine des Ruaults located?

The estate lies in the Saumurois, in the Loire Valley, near the village of Chavannes attached to the commune of Puy-Notre-Dame. This area carries a winegrowing past reaching back to the 12th century.

Who runs Domaine des Ruaults?

Michel Faivre-Lepilleur and his wife took over this four-generation family property. One came from IT, the other from marketing, and they trained as winemakers alongside a vineyard manager and a consulting oenologist.

Which grape varieties grow on the estate's 15 hectares?

The vineyard brings together Chenin, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay across roughly twenty plots. This patchwork of terroirs lends the wines added depth.

Which cuvées does Domaine des Ruaults make?

The range includes a 100% Chenin white in AOC Saumur aged in tank, an Élégance rosé in AOC Cabernet d'Anjou and a sparkling Saumur Brut blending Chenin and Chardonnay. Cuvées in AOC Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame are on the way.

How does the estate work its vines?

The couple follows sustainable viticulture aimed at reducing chemical inputs. The vines are tended with traditional practices, in keeping with the Saumurois terroir.