{"id":12115,"date":"2025-11-20T14:12:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T14:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/?post_type=project&p=12115"},"modified":"2025-12-12T16:10:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T16:10:21","slug":"domaine-de-la-pierre-gravee","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/project\/domaine-de-la-pierre-gravee\/","title":{"rendered":"Domaine de la Pierre Grav\u00e9e"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Domaine de la Pierre Grav\u00e9e” subhead=”Vouvray | Loire Valley” text_orientation=”center” background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.25)” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ title_font_size=”50″ subhead_font_size=”20px” background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” background_image=”https:\/\/www.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/loire_header.jpg” global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”off” make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” admin_label=”row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#fcf4de” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|2% ||2% ” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”USP” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” custom_margin=”|2%||2%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Philippe Guyonnet wasn\u2019t born into a winemaking family but instead caught the wine bug later in life, first with the rare wines of Burgundy \u2014 as is often the case. However, a few serendipitous encounters later he landed in the Loire Valley, where the pull and real possibility of creating great wines from ancient terroirs was too strong to ignore.<\/p>\n

The historic Loire appellation of Vouvray has plenty of iconic figures who craft legendary bottles; but aside from wines produced by the very top names, Philippe felt there was a great deal of unrealized potential on these windswept, clay-rich, classic tuffeau soils. After befriending the late Jacky Blot of Domaine de la Taille aux Loups in Montlouis\u00a0 <\/span>\u2014 a kindred spirit who was also inspired\u00a0 <\/span>by the wines of Burgundy \u2014 and then following Jacky\u2019s sage advice, Philippe found his dream vineyards in the charmingly named Vall\u00e9e Coquette, just west of Vouvray.<\/p>\n

Domaine de la Pierre Grav\u00e9e is an ambitious new estate with a singular goal: to create grand Vouvray wines worthy of the weighty history of the name, Chenin Blanc with body and energy and layers of unrelenting, captivating flavor. Here the youngest vines are a half-century old and produce but a handful of fruit; wines age slowly in the finest of Burgundy-sourced oak barrels for 18 months or more, and are bottled unfined and unfiltered.<\/p>\n

The \u201cpierre grav\u00e9e\u201d or carved stone of this unique estate describes the classic Loire cellars of the region, soft limestone carved by hand that maintains a perfect temperature and humidity for extended aging. Indeed, this domaine and its limited, handcrafted wines represent a new, exciting chapter in the long history of Vouvray, one that just may be its finest yet.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ padding_mobile=”off” make_equal=”on” admin_label=”row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”5%|5%|5%|5%” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#d46d32″ use_border_color=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

FARMING & WINEMAKING<\/strong><\/p>\n

The estate totals some 30 acres of vineyard land in and around the Vall\u00e9e Coquette, west of the village of Vouvray. Here vineyards sit up on a windy plateau and enjoy a southern exposition. A special holding includes the walled \u2018Petit Mont\u2019 vineyard, one of Vouvray\u2019s few historic \u201cclos\u201d plots, a five-acre vineyard with varying expositions and very old vines.<\/p>\n

Soils mix iron-rich clay and flint with subsoils of classic Loire\u00a0tuffeau<\/i>, a soft limestone. Vines are cared for according to organic principles; as of the 2024 harvest, the estate is certified organic.<\/p>\n

Grapes are harvested by hand in small crates, and are pressed immediately and left to settle naturally in a temperature-controlled tank overnight. Juice is fermented on indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels (approx. 15% to 20% new oak) and aged in barrel, depending on the wine, from one to two winters.<\/p>\n

Very moderate doses of sulfites are added during the maturation process and before bottling; wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”SPARKLING WINES” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”|on|||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”16″ background_color=”#d46d32″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”2%|5%|2%|5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

SPARKLING WINES<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Vouvray Brut Nature” admin_label=”Vouvray Brut Nature” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ title_font=”|on|||” title_font_size=”14″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|5%||5%” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

A delicious sparkling wine that is more than a step above; it is a new quality category in Vouvray Brut! The 100% Chenin Blanc base wine here is world-class in its own right, aged for two years in barrel before its second fermentation in bottle. Aged in bottle for 16 months, for a non-dosage wine of serious energy and depth. Savory Williams pear, white peach, a touch of anise; mixed citrus and sea salt. A peerless aperitif with oysters on the half shell and a necessary companion with frito misto<\/em> and lemon wedges.<\/p>\n

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