Domaine Fernand Girard 'La Garenne' Sancerre, Loire, France

Grapefruit, white peach, and crushed stone rise from the glass with brisk, focused energy. 2024 Domaine Fernand Girard “La Garenne” Sancerre reflects nearly three decades of collaboration between the Girard family and Louis/Dressner Selections, linking traditional Loire viticulture with clean, precise cellar work. Its layered mineral profile and bright structure speak to a domaine committed to balanced farming and transparent Sauvignon Blanc expression.

Product Details:

• Owner & Winemaker: Alain Girard
• ABV: 13%
• Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc
• Farming: Sustainable vineyard practices
• Vineyard Source: 14 hectares across multiple vineyard parcels
• Soil: Gravel, flint, clay, and limestone
• Aspect: East-facing vineyard exposures
• Harvest Method: Direct-pressed fruit
• Fermentation: Thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks
• Aging: Stainless steel aging before blending and bottling
• Production: Blend of parcels from gravel, flint, and clay terroirs

Sensory Description:

The wine opens with lemon zest, grapefruit, white peach, and subtle elderflower carried by bright acidity and a taut mineral frame. Flint-driven notes and a light saline edge add definition through the mid-palate, while citrus and orchard fruit retain clarity and lift. The finish is dry, focused, and persistent, balancing freshness with gentle textural weight.

Winemaker’s Background:

Domaine Fernand Girard is a family-run estate in Sancerre overseen by Alain Girard, with vineyards planted across the appellation’s varied mix of gravel, flint, and clay-limestone soils. The domaine farms approximately 14 hectares devoted primarily to Sauvignon Blanc alongside Pinot Noir, emphasizing sustainable vineyard practices and stainless steel vinification that preserves varietal clarity and site expression. The long-standing relationship with Louis/Dressner Selections has helped introduce the estate’s restrained and mineral-driven style to export markets for nearly thirty years.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve chilled at 8 to 10 degrees Celsius in a medium-sized white wine glass to emphasize aromatic lift and mineral precision. Pair with oysters, goat cheese, trout, shellfish, herb-driven salads, or roast chicken with fresh herbs.