Thierry Chardon's path to winemaking ran through Paris and a fire station. His father sold the family's vineyards while Thierry was young, and he became a firefighter rather than a vigneron. It was Sophie, who would become his partner and co-founder of Domaine de l'Aumonier, who convinced him to leave Paris and come back to the land. In 1996, the two founded their domaine in Couffy on the Cher River, starting with seven acres inherited from Sophie's grandfather. Thirty years later, they farm 86 acres and produce some of Touraine's most honest, characterful wines.
Farming
The conversion to organic in 2006, after plot comparisons proved beyond doubt that organically farmed vines were healthier, was a turning point. Biodynamic certification followed in 2023. Thierry handles the vines and winemaking; Sophie manages sales and administration while staying close to the harvest. Vines average 25 years of age, with 49 acres planted to Sauvignon Blanc, supplemented by Gamay, Chenin, Chardonnay, Cot, Cabernet Franc, and Pineau d'Aunis.
The Wines
Sauvignon Blanc is the heart of Les Chardons, the estate's flagship label. These are not flashy or tropical wines; they are textural, mineral, and shaped by chalk and clay soils. The Gamay reds offer a Loire counterpoint to Beaujolais, while the Pineau d'Aunis, a rare Loire variety with a distinctive peppery note, is among the most distinctive things to come out of Touraine. Several sparkling cuvees round out a portfolio built on restraint and terroir.
The Domaine
Domaine de l'Aumonier produces around 8,500 cases annually. At that scale, Thierry can still pay attention to every parcel. The wines carry the unmistakable freshness of a well-farmed Loire estate and the grip of producers who have thought carefully about every decision in the cellar.
