Winery the New Rocks

In the heart of the Loire Valley, in Varrains, just a few kilometers from Saumur, the Winery Roches Neuves cultivates much more than just vines...

Here, tuffeau—a soft, luminous limestone—reigns supreme. This porous rock, capable of storing water and releasing it at just the right moments, gives the wines their freshness, their tension, and that distinctive vibrancy. Winery 28 hectares, divided into 61 plots, flourish on chalky, sandy, and clay soils, under the benevolent influence of the Loire River and the Fontevraud Forest. A true microclimate, almost a cocoon.

Just two grape varieties (but what varieties!): Cabernet Franc and Chenin. Two boundless canvases for expressing the diversity of the terroirs in the Saumur-Champigny appellation for reds and the Saumur appellation for whites.

Founded in 1850 by the Duveau family, the Winery a new direction in 1991 with the arrival of Thierry and Marie Germain. It was love at first sight. Thierry, a native of Bordeaux and a sixth-generation winemaker, brought with him a deep understanding of wine… and, above all, a rare sensitivity. Very quickly, the Winery , refined its style, and established itself.

Converted to organic farming in the late 1990s and switched to biodynamic farming in the early 2000s: here, the concept of “living” isn’t just a marketing gimmick—it’s a given.

The biodynamic approach practiced at Les Roches Neuves is both intuitive and rigorous. We observe, taste, and listen. We seek balance between the plant, the soil, the animal, and the human. Some plots are worked using animal power : special mention goes to Ben and Comtesse, the Winery horses, guided by Jeanne, daughter of Thierry and Marie, who also crafts her own wines with infectious energy.

In 2020, Louis, the eldest son, joined the family business alongside his partner Agathe, after gaining experience in France and New Zealand. Alongside the Germain family, a dedicated team of eleven shares the same high standards and the same passion for craftsmanship.

At Winery Roch, emotion is never far away. Harvest decisions are made based on tasting the grapes. Aging methods are adapted to the wines, not the other way around. With minimal intervention, the vintages seek to sincerely reveal the identity of Grape variety, the terroir… and the women and men who work alongside them.