Jennifer Bariou & Thibaut Bodet

Jennifer Bariou and Thibaut Bodet settled at Cheillé, in the Touraine just west of Tours near Azay-le-Rideau, in 2015, after both had spent years working cellars elsewhere. They started with about two and a half hectares and now farm eight or nine, organically and on biodynamic principles, with vines spread across Cheillé, Lignières-de-Touraine and Azay-le-Rideau. A flock of Solognote sheep does the grazing between the rows, and they have planted peach, pear, almond and cherry around the vines for the sake of having something there besides vines.

Chenin Blanc is the white, and the reds run to Côt, Grolleau, Gamay and Cabernet Sauvignon. In the cellar the aim is to do as little as possible: native yeasts, minimal handling. The wines go out under the local Touraine-Azay-le-Rideau appellation where they qualify, and without a geographical indication where they do not.