The Domaine Marc Bredif winery is one of the great names of the Loire, producing exceptional white and red wines. Despite the size of the operation, quality is paramount for its owners, as anyone who samples the wines can see and enjoy. The estate has a long and colorful history, established in 1893 under Château Les Roches’ original name. In 1919, not long after the end of the First World War, Marc Bredif took over from his Uncle and renamed the property to mark ownership change. His focus was simple, to forge an unrivaled reputation for excellence amongst the estates of the Loire Valley. His hard work paid off, and Domaine’s reputation grew quickly at home and abroad. This was largely built on its sparkling Vouvray’s notoriety, reputed to be some of the finest in the region.
He invested heavily in the estate during the 1930s, building a tremendous circular storage room in the heart of its cellars, which today houses venerable vintages of sweet Vouvray, some of which date back to the 1900s! The property survived the Second World War relatively unharmed and remained under family control until the 1980s. As is so often the case, family intrigue and financial necessity meant that the Domaine had to be sold, and in 1980 Baron Patrick de Ladoucette acquired the estate. Thankfully, the Baron was every bit the conscientious owner and has given new life to Marc Bredif – investing heavily and expanding their holdings to include some of the most prized Vouvray vineyards – 20 hectares in total. Picking exclusively by hand, the Domaine produces some of the most profound and immortal expressions of Chenin Blanc in various styles to suit all wine lovers.
Marc Bredif is a landmark in the Loire, not least because of the consistency of quality across an impressive range of wines. When visiting this beautiful property on our tour, explore’ The Rotonde’ at the heart of the cellars, and try some historic vintages of Vouvray!