Yves Guegniard Domaine de la Bergerie 'Quarts de Chaume' Grand Cru, Loire, France

From the sun-kissed slopes of the Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru, where mists from the Layon River nurture noble rot on late-harvested Chenin Blanc, Yves Guégniard and his family at Domaine de la Bergerie craft one of the Loire Valley’s most exquisite dessert wines. This golden elixir is both opulent and balanced, a timeless expression of Chenin Blanc’s ability to capture sweetness, minerality, and elegance in perfect harmony.

Product Details

• Grape Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
• ABV: 12%
• Farming Practices: Certified Sustainable (Terra Vitis) with biodynamic principles
• Soil Type: Schist and sandstone with quartz and volcanic inclusions
• Harvest: Hand-harvested in successive tries to select botrytized grapes
• Fermentation: Slow fermentation in oak barrels using native yeasts
• Aging: 12–18 months in French oak barrels (20% new)
• Production Quantity: Limited, artisanal bottling

Sensory Description

The Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru shimmers in the glass with hues of deep gold and amber. Aromas of candied apricot, quince, and honeyed pear unfold with hints of saffron, acacia, and toasted almond. On the palate, it is lush and layered, with flavors of ripe peach, dried pineapple, and caramelized apple that glide across a silky texture balanced by Chenin Blanc’s signature acidity. The finish is long and resonant, leaving notes of citrus zest, spice, and mineral freshness that keep the wine impeccably poised.

Awards & Accolades

• 96 Points – 2017 Vintage – Awarded: 2021 – Wine Enthusiast
• 95 Points – 2015 Vintage – Awarded: 2019 – Decanter
• Gold – 2014 Vintage – Awarded: 2016 – Concours des Grands Vins de Loire

Winemaker’s Background

Located in the heart of Anjou, Domaine de la Bergerie has been in the Guégniard family since 1961. Today, Yves Guégniard and his daughter Anne Guégniard continue to uphold the family’s legacy, producing wines that combine precision and authenticity across the Loire’s great appellations. Their commitment to careful vineyard stewardship and minimal intervention allows the terroir of Quarts de Chaume, with its unique schist soils and river-driven microclimate, to express itself with purity and grace.

Serving Suggestions

Serve lightly chilled at 10–12°C (50–54°F). An extraordinary pairing for foie gras with apples, peach tarts, or pineapple desserts. It also complements blue cheeses, roasted nuts, and fruit-based pastries. For a savory twist, enjoy it with roasted duck or chicken glazed with honey and citrus.

Golden, vibrant, and endlessly complex, Yves Guégniard Domaine de la Bergerie Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru stands among the Loire’s finest sweet wines, a perfect harmony of sweetness, structure, and minerality that lingers like a sunset over the Layon Valley.