CHÂTEAU DE FOSSE-SECHE

Who are we

The “Château de Fosse-Sèche” is a wine estate created by Benedictine monks around the year 800. The Saumur vineyard is planted almost exclusively on chalky soil. But Fosse-Sèche is of geological interest : its Jurassic soil contains no chalk, just flint. This flint soil, when broken down, has iron oxide trapped inside it. More than 200 starred Michelin restaurants in France and all over the world have already chosen the wines from Château de Fosse-Sèche. The whole line of reflection revolves around one simple idea: 1/3 of the area of Fosse-Sèche is devoted to wine production and the remaining 2/3 are entirely dedicated to nature and biodiversity. There are therefore 15 hectares of vines in certified organic farming and biodynamic (Biodyvin) in the middle of a single plot of 45 hectares. The area is classified as a LPO haven (Protection League of Birds). More than 100 wildlife shelters were installed with the help of the LPO. This is the largest project ever carried out in the department. Twenty years ago, we dug a body of water essential to the biodiversity of the area. Then we created a wetland behind the body of water to facilitate the reproduction of amphibians and insects. For more than 15 years, we have sown more than 30 species of flowers to create reservoir areas for pollinating insects. Several tree plantations have been established on 3 plots spread over the estate that cover an area of about 20 hectares. Over 4500 trees were planted to channel and concentrate the wind over the vineyard in order to refresh it as a fan would and thus reduce the impact of climate change. Following the COP 21 in Paris, the government launched in 2016 the CDC Biodiversity Nature 2050. The goal is to improve biodiversity in agricultural and forestry environments despite the impending climate change. Fosse-Sèche integrated this programme, has been a partner of the Nature 2050 programme from the start and was the winner of the national competition “Arbre d'Avenir” in the most demanding category. In 2018, Fosse-Sèche received the first prize for agricultural dynamics in Maine-et-Loire. What caught the jury’s attention was the ability of Fosse-Sèche to combine economic development, social improvement of the company through the creation of several jobs and its total involvement in the preservation of the biodiversity of the estate. Since September 2020, the domain uses 100% renewable French electricity (hydroelectric power). In 2022, a conservatory of old varieties of fruit trees has been planted, in partenrship with the famous jam maker Stephan Perrotte (Maison Perrotte). Jersey cows also graze in a meadow, in collaboration with the breeder Guillaume Gatard and the butcher JA Gastronomie. We also decided to install our own apiary in order to produce the estate's honey ourselves.