In the heart of the Loire lies Domaine Chancelle, a vineyard located on the magnificent limestone soil of Turquant, a small village nestled between Saumur and Chinon. Thierry Chancelle is a native of Chinon and Lydie, his wife, a daughter and granddaughter of viticulturists in Saumur. The entire family estate is situated on clayey-limestone slopes which consist of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Chenin. Respectful to tradition, but also innovative, they have the concern to highlight the nuances of their terroir by practicing the most natural viticulture to preserve the soil balance of their plots. Chancelle produces powerful and elegant Cabernet Franc, but the couple has a true passion for Chenin. Early in their careers, Thierry and Lydie confessed their love for the variety and actively campaigned for the recognition of a white Saumur-Champigny appellation.
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This is an old estate with traditions dating back to the 18th century, but the new regime first produced a vintage in 1989. The vines now run from eight to 35 years old and are at an altitude between 250 and 500 meters. In Eastern Vinho Verde, [Casa do Valle] is located in the sub-region of Basto, which the winery calls “warmer and less humid than the rest.” They are about 75 kilometers from the ocean, surrounded by mountains and divided by the river Tâmega, thus putting estate vineyards of the Quinta on both sides of the river. With consultant Luis Duarte and Luis Botelho Cameira (of the Sousa Botelho family that owns the estate) as winemakers, Casa do Valle seems to be making interesting wines on a regular basis now.” – The Wine Advocate – Issue #230, April 2017
Casa do Valle is located near the legendary Cavez Bridge, a place often mentioned in the work of the famous Portuguese 19th-century writer Camilo Castelo Branco, and spreads out, protected by the mountain ranges of Barroso and Alvao, across the hillsides of the Tâmega River. The excellent exposure of the vines at this estate, located in the Basto sub region, along with rigorous selection in the vineyards and careful winemaking processes gives rise to wines of world-renowned quality.
Casa do Valle is the name of the manor house of the estate, which produces the Vinho Verde of the same name. Owned by the Sousa Botelho family, winemaking here dates back to the 18th century and features a mix of the ancient enforcado (tree-trained vines) and ramada (trellis) training systems for the red grapes and the modern single-wire training system for the white grapes.
The main noble grape varieties used for the white wines are the Alvarinho, Arinto, Azal and Loureiro. For red and rosé wines the grape varieties are Vinhao, the predominant red-grape variety of the Vinho Verde Region, Rabo de Ovelha, and Touriga Nacional.
With a total area of 170 ha, of which 55 hectares are under vines, Casa do Valle is one of the largest production Quintas in the Vinho Verde Region, using exclusively grapes produced at the estate.