Joseph de Maistre

The domaine itself is very young, founded in 2020 by Joseph and Marie de Maistre after careers outside wine. Joseph, originally from the Centre-Loire, was inspired by his grandfather (a Cognac producer) and trained in both France and South Africa before returning home to start his own project. Rather than building from scratch, they took over two historic estates: one in Reuilly and the Prieuré de Saint-Céols in Menetou-Salon, whose vineyard history stretches back as far as 1190, when land was entrusted to monastic orders. This combination gives the winery an interesting dual identity: a new-generation producer with a fresh, hands-on philosophy, working with vineyards that are deeply embedded in Loire history and terroir. Their approach centres on organic and partly biodynamic farming, with minimal intervention to let the limestone-rich soils (notably Kimmeridgian marl) express themselves clearly in the wines.

In Reuilly, their 24 hectares lie on classic Kimmeridgian soils, limestone rich in ancient marine fossils and shells, formed when the region was once under sea. First cultivated by monks in the 7th century, these vineyards are now farmed organically, with biodynamic practices on selected parcels, producing wines of freshness, minerality and lift. In nearby Menetou-Salon, the Prieuré de Saint-Céols continues a winemaking history dating back to the 12th century. Its fossil rich limestone soils are ideally suited to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, yielding wines of purity, structure and quiet depth. The 12 hectare estate here is fully organic. Across both sites, intervention is kept to a minimum. Each vintage is guided rather than shaped, allowing the character of the soils and the season to come through naturally.