Portraits of winemakers

DOMAINE DE ROCHEVILLE: A DREAM COME TRUE

Philippe Porché: A Dream Realized in Saumur-Champigny

At the helm of a 16-hectare vineyard located in the heart of the Saumur-Champigny appellation, this wine enthusiast sold his business over ten years ago to fulfill his dream of becoming a winemaker.

The Loire Valley thus became his promised land. Several factors led Philippe Porché to this region. For one, personal connections played a role. At the age of 10, his parents moved from Vendée to near Saumur. Captivated by the stunning landscapes of the Loire, it didn’t take long for Philippe to fall in love with this part of France.

An Ideal Microclimate

The climate also influenced his decision: “The Saumur-Champigny appellation benefits from a microclimate. Protected by the Fontevraud forest to the southeast, the Loire to the northeast, and the Thouet to the west, it enjoys the lowest rainfall in the region,” explains Philippe Porché.

With the help of his wife Agnès and the young winemaker Jérôme Callet, Philippe crafted his first Loire wine in 2005. The winemaker and his team focus exclusively on two iconic grape varieties of the Loire Valley : Cabernet Franc and Chenin.

Their ultimate ambition is to make the most of the vines to produce wines of exceptional quality that cannot be found elsewhere. This desire to stand out is reflected in the poetic names of their cuvées: Le Prince, Le Roi, La Dame, La Jouvencelle…

A “Cave d’Excellence”

Eager to share his passion with visitors to the region, Philippe Porché opened a winery in 2013. Its ultra-modern architecture contrasts with the traditional buildings in the area. Spanning 700 m², the facility offers various activities such as tastings and wine seminars. Just fifteen months after its opening, the Domaine de Rocheville’s winery received the highly coveted “Cave d’Excellence” designation. A promising start…