The vineyard
The LAFOI Vineyard : « a history of passion »
1978: The story began when Claire, originally from the North West of France, and Daniel, from the South East of France met each other in Bordeaux, studying viticulture and wine making.
Quickly they discovered a shared passion for wine and, after graduating, they decided to become winegrowers, though the journey has been a long one to get to where they are today.
In 1981, Daniel started working as a vineyard manager and winemaker for different Châteaux in the region of Bordeaux while Claire became a teacher in viticulture management.
In1986, they finally made their dream come true by taking on a winery near Saint Ciers d’Abzac, 10km North of Libourne.
The wine adventure began there, and carried on to the next generation 25 years later, when their oldest son Loïc joined the family business in 2011 after having obtained an advanced diploma in viticulture and an engineer degree in farming practices.
In 2014, Loïc started to develop more environmentally friendly wine by converting to Organic harvesting techniques; his goal was: a return to nature, with a focus on nurturing the plant and its needs to obtain the best quality produce.This modern and challenging approach to winemaking has been a turning point in the evolution of the family business and, currently, Loïc now run the winery using these developed methods.
Our Philosophy
At the vineyard
« We inherit from our parents and we pass down to our children. »
With a deep respect for the land, we have been committed to a sustainable agriculture for the past 30 years. From planting vines to meeting with wine lovers, we follow an approach that provides quality regarding our terroir, our wines and the way we share our passion with you.
We opt for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices such as organic fertilisers, natural grass cover and minimisation of chemical use.
The beginning of the conversion to organic viticulture in 2014 has pushed this approach even further.
Today, all of our vineyard is classified as Organic. Every two rows are grass-covered, which brings beneficial insects that naturally fight against pests. The other rows are cultivated and planted at the end of summer with cover crops, generally a mix of cereals and legumes, to restructure the soil from compaction and fertilize throughout the year.
The frequency of sprays and the selection of chemicals used also play an important part in the way we farm. We are working with agronomists to reduce the amount of chemicals used and their impacts on beneficial insects. Always looking for new natural processes, we are experimenting with the benefit of wild flowers such as the use of Nettles to improve growth and reinforce the immune system, making vines more resistant to diseases.
Today, all of our vineyard is classified as Organic. Every two rows are grass covered which brings beneficial insects that naturally fight against pests. The other rows are cultivated and planted at the end of summer with cover crops, generally a mix of cereals and legumes, to restructure the soil from compaction and fertilize throughout the year.
The frequency of sprays and the selection of chemicals used also play an important part in the way we farm. We are working with agronomists to reduce the amount of chemical used and their impacts on beneficial insects. Always looking for new natural processes, we are experimenting the benefit of wild flowers such as the use of Nettles to improve growth and reinforce the immune system, making vines more resistant to diseases.
At the wine cellar
« A blend of tradition and progress! »
We opt for a traditional wine making process using new technologies and techniques. Year after year, we have invested in better harvesting gear, including cleaning and pressuring materials that allow the production of a better juice.
The wine is then made in stainless steal tanks equipped with a cooling system, essential to obtain the best aromas in white and rosé wines.
Like the dormancy for the vines, we let the wine sit through winter before it starts the maturing process that will carry on until bottling.
Our Marketing Strategy
« Autonomy and Diversity! »
Passing on our love for the profession is a joy, a source of pride and a duty. That is why we have always chosen to provide a full range to our customers and to sell our wines independently, both in France and internationally.
Our Terroir and vineyard
Our family grows 20 hectares of white and red vines. Located at the back of Fronsac’s hills, most of our vineyard is on a plateau facing South over the valley of La Saye.
The soil is sandy silty in some areas with an under layer of clay, good for soft and fruity wine. In other areas the soil tends to be more clay-limestomy which gives stronger and richer wines.
Regarding the Red varieties
55%
Merlot noir
20%
Cabernet sauvignon
15%
Cabernet franc
10%
new varieties
Regarding the white varieties
70%
sauvignon blanc
25%
Sauvignon Gris
5%
Sémillon
The vineyard is less than 30 years old and planted at density from 3300 to 4000 plants per hectare.
Recently we planted vines on our best soil, 1.5 m spacing with higher density up to 6000 plants/ha.
Our goal is to produce exceptional wines that are more environmentally friendly and that will please everyone. From soft and fruity, easy to drink, to more complexity and body, we have something for all wine lovers.