Portrait / La Paonnerie : the institution of the Coteaux d'Ancenis
Located in Anetz, a few miles from Ancenis, in Loire-Atlantique, the Winery La Paonnerie is part of the local heritage. On this too little known appellation of the Coteaux d'Ancenis, Jacques and Agnès Carroget take care of a little more than 20 hectares. Here is their portrait.
La Paonnerie is much more than a Winery, it is an institution. On the Coteaux d'Ancenis of course but also on a national level as Jacques and Agnès Carroget 's wines attract a lot of people. In organic culture since 1997, the Winery has a little more than 20 hectares. On this part of the right bank of the Loire, between Brittany and Anjou, the wines of the Nantes region (melon), the wines of Ancenis (gamay, pineau) and the wines of Anjou (chenin, cabernet) are represented. And even very well represented thanks to Jacques' meticulous work.
Since his childhood, he has been around grapes. Since the age of 9, Jacques has been harvesting. Even if these periods were for him synonymous with festivities, he remembers rough times but the passion remains intact and for him. winemaker is not only a job, it is a way of thinking, of seeing life. His philosophy clearly revolves around the earth, the soils and becomes over time a specialist and lover. Like his habit of putting a little oats in some rows. The roots of this one allow to bring a little nitrogen to the plant. He also sows clover, for exactly the same reasons. The musts will be richer in nitrogen and therefore of better quality. In the vat, the same thing happens, no sulfur or yeast. For his Gamay, for example, he harvests whole bunches. The vatting is done in semi-carbonic conditions for 4 to 5 days. Giving pulp to the fruit is one of his priorities. In short, what a pleasure to work with people like Jacques and Agnès! And to have in our glasses, the divine nectars of the Pao!