Two vignerons, one set of values: since February 2021 Simon Tardieux and Jerome Gal have farmed the Loire vines of Thesee together, guided by the principles of paysanne, or peasant, agriculture.
Backstory
The domaine grew out of Courtault-Tardieux, founded in March 2009 by Alain Courtault and Simon Tardieux. When Jerome Gal joined Simon as an associate in February 2021, the estate took the name Domaine Tardieux-Gal. The vines have been farmed organically since 1998.
The Region
All of the parcels lie in Thesee, a winegrowing commune on the right bank of the Cher between Montrichard and Saint-Aignan, working in the Touraine, Touraine-Chenonceaux and Cremant de Loire appellations.
Vineyards & Farming
The estate is certified organic by Ecocert and beyond certification follows the tenets of peasant agriculture: product quality, working with nature, autonomy, transmissibility, and local development and distribution. Sauvignon Blanc is the largest planting, with Les Sageres grown on white clay and slate soils and Les Parcs on limestone terroir.
Winemaking
Grapes are hand harvested and vinified with native yeasts, with no added sugar and only a small amount of sulfites.
The Wines
The domaine produces around a dozen organic cuvees across Touraine, Touraine-Chenonceaux and Cremant de Loire, including Sauvignon Blanc bottlings and reds from Gamay and Cot (Malbec).