Story
Saumon Frantz
Montlouis-sur-Loire · Loire · France
Frantz Saumon established his domain in Montlouis-sur-Loire in 2002 after working as a forester in France and Canada, and training with the late Christian Chaussard of Domaine le Briseau, a key figure in the "vin naturel" movement. From the start, he has practised organic and biodynamic agriculture, ageing his wines in a mix of fibreglass, stainless steel tanks, and wooden vessels of varying sizes. All of Frantz's wines are naturally fermented, and he exclusively produces pétillant naturel sparkling wines, avoiding the méthode Champenoise entirely. Frantz's winemaking approach emphasises purity, consistently aiming to produce clean, dry wines.
“He has a particular knack for pétillant naturels, crafting some of the best examples in the region.”
His primary focus is Chenin Blanc, with five different vineyards in Montlouis, each boasting unique terroirs. The vineyards range from 20 to 50 years old, except for Clos du Chêne, which has vines between 70 and 100 years old. Frantz's philosophy is hands-on, preferring to personally manage all work in his vineyards.
