We bumped into Didier by accident, as we were searching for another producer.  We fell into conversation and from that began a great friendship.  Didier and his wife Fredèrique made us really welcome and we soon discovered that his wines were just fantastic examples of the best the Anjou region has to offer.

Together with their two daughters, the guard dog (!) Gypsy and ginger cat, they live in the wonderful village of Martigné-Briand close to Angers and Saumur.

Didier has been running his vineyard using organic methods since 1997.  He sees this as not only best form of production for his wine but also as the most sustainable way to live.  He had been worried about the volumes of herbicides, pesticides and fungicides that were commonly used to grow vines and the impact they were having on the environment and decided to pursue the organic route.  It was just a sensible step that was better for their land, their wine and the health of their customers!

Didier is absolutely passionate about his wines, the countryside and the environment.

Domaine Hauret Balaine covers some 15 hectares in the Anjou region of the Loire valley.  The land is clay and limestone over 'faluns' (a French term meaning limestone consisting primarily of fossils from the Miocene era).

Their production is 2 hectares of cabernet sauvignon, 9 hectares of Cabernet Franc, 1 hectare of Gamay, 1 hectare of Chenin, 0.2 hectares of Chardonnay and 0.8 hectores of Malbec (known as côt in the Loire).  Weeds and ground foliage are kept under control by hand and in the non-growing season by the judicious use of a flamethrower.