DOMAINE SÉROL
Biodynamic winemakers on the Côte Roannaise, near the Loire Gorges, we produce mainly red wines from the local grape variety: Gamay Saint Romain.
The vines are planted on the granitic terroirs of the Massif Central, at altitudes of between 400 and 550 meters.
Our 38 hectares are planted on hillsides, in the heart of a rich biodiversity inherited from the region's history of mixed farming.
We practice careful viticulture, without compromise. These constant efforts in the vineyard allow us to obtain quality grapes, the sole guarantors of the expression of our terroirs.
A Family Estate in the Heart of the Côte Roannaise
Domaine Sérol has been passed down through the family for five generations. Stéphane Sérol took over the estate in 1996. Deeply attached to the Côte Roannaise, he cleared and replanted land to bring the most beautiful hillsides back into vine. Naturally, he chose to plant the historic grape variety: the Gamay Saint-Romain, thus participating in the preservation of its plant heritage.
The Côte Roannaise and the
Loire Volcanique
The 200 hectares of the AOP côte roannaise, planted exclusively with Gamay, are situated on the eastern foothills of the Massif Central. This mid-mountain vineyard, between 400 and 530 m in altitude, is located on the granitic slopes of the Monts de la Madeleine, near Roanne.
The semi-continental climate here is dry and rather windy. Today, the Loire Volcanique’s association gathers producers from the Roannais, Forez, Saint-Pourçain and Auvergne vineyards, between the Loire river and the ancient volcanoes of Auvergne. www.coteroannaise.fr - www.loire-volcanique.com
Gamay Saint-Romain
and Other Varieties
Gamay Saint-Romain is the autochthonous grape variety of the Côte Roannaise. This red Gamay with white juice offers small berries rich in phenols. It yields particularly spicy wines with moderate alcohol degrees.
On our terroir, we have also planted white grape varieties: Viognier and Chenin, then classified as IGP d’Urfé.
High-Demand Viticulture for True Terroir Expression
With his wife Carine, they gradually converted the estate to organic farming, then to biodynamics. In the spring, up to 25 people work in the vineyards. Our harvests are entirely manual, mobilizing 70 people.
Biodynamics and High Standards
Despite the labor difficulties, we insist on high-density planting while raising the height of the leaf canopy.
Enriched by local Polyculture, we have inherited a beautiful biodiversity. Because the essential happens in the vineyard, all our plots are certified Organic Agriculture by Ecocert and biodynamic under the Biodyvin label. Our objective is to stimulate the life force, to preserve the soils and respect vital cycles.
www.biodyvin.com
In the Cellar: Precision and Gentle Guidance
Harvesting is entirely manual. Every effort is made to respect the grapes: small crates are used for picking, sorting is done on a vibrating table, and gravity is used to fill the vats.
We strive for vinification that is as close to the grape as possible, with minimal intervention and using indigenous yeasts only. The red wines are primarily vinified in concrete vats, or in wood and amphorae, while the whites are done in barrels.
Sérol CHAMPS LIBRES
Following the devastating frost of 2021, the only possible solution came from winemaker friends located in other regions who allowed us to continue vinifying organic grapes. Since 2022, this response to recurring climatic hazards is part of a long-term strategy: in parallel with Domaine Sérol, a new project has seen the light of day: Sérol Champs Libres.Sérol Champs Libres features a white, a rosé, and a sparkling cuvée, all classified as Vin de France.
We have set up a collaboration with winemakers certified in Organic Agriculture across several regions of France. We carefully select these grapes to vinify original cuvées, carried out in complete freedom.
