Domaine de la Pépière | "La Pepie," Melon |Loire Valley, France | 2022
In 2019, Marc Olivier passed his pioneering torch to Rémi Branger and Gwénaëlle Croix.
Rémi, a local known to Marc since childhood, joined in 2006. Gwen, a former industrial worker turned wine enthusiast, entered the scene after studying viticulture. Her, Marc and Rémi hit it off, and she became a partner in 2014.
Marc's legacy lives on, with Rémi steering toward organic viticulture and Gwen championing biodynamics. Their teamwork extends to the cellar, where longer sur-lies élevages and meticulous winemaking push Pépière to new heights.
Pépière's journey started with Marc's seven hectares, unifying terroir into one wine. As the estate grew, so did the diversity of terroirs, prompting the creation of single vineyard cuvées like Clos des Briords in 1988 and Cormermais in 1992. In the Muscadet region, dominated by bulk production, Pépière's commitment to showcasing terroirs has set it apart.
Despite Muscadet's potential, the region struggles to attract new talent due to low prices and market challenges. Pépière, however, thrives with half its 42 hectares in the esteemed crus of Clisson, Monnières-Saint Fiacre, Château-Thébaud, and Gorges – a testament to Marc's foresight.
The La Pépie cuvée blends fruit from Pépière's diverse terroirs, with 50% falling within Muscadet Sèvre & Maine and 50% in the crus. Since 2016, purchased fruit supplements the blend due to low yields. Pépière continues to leave a legacy, pioneering Muscadet's true potential in every bottle.
🧑🤝🧑 Pair with: Oysters! Shellfish, moules frites, sushi, white fish
🍇 Grape Variety: 100% Melon de Bourgogne
🌱 Farming: Biodynamic
🍾 Winemaking: bunches were direct-pressed and the juice settled for 12 hours. Native yeast fermentation in stainless steel tanks; aged on its lees for 6-8 months in large, underground, glass-lined cement tanks; bottled without filtration
🧑🏼🌾 Winemakers: Rémi Branger and Gwénaëlle Croix
🌎 Region: Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine, Loire Valley, France
🌡 Serve: Cold