From 1956 the Cave de Saumur has been expanding. It is above all a human venture, marked by numerous events which create the heart, character and memory of man.

Jean-Louis BAZILLE, you are the present and third president of the Cave de Saumur. Could you tell us about its beginnings?.

“In the fifties, the need to modernize winemaking, lead to about forty winegrowers getting together, who wanted to tackle the new economic issues. Armed with their expertise and determination, the first collective winemaking took place in the autumn of 1956. The sale of white wine then created the foundation of this courageous adventure of men. In 1957 this group of men set up the Cave de Saumur on the top of the hill at Saint Cyr en Bourg, in the heart of the Saumur winegrowing region, sinking its roots into the 10 kilometres of galleries which have become its heritage.”

Under the patronage of the founding president, Robert NEAU, how did the Cave de Saumur assert itself on the market at that time?

“The results were not immediate! A hard frost wiped out the first crop. Work on the vines had not born fruit; work was relentless on site, clearing the subsoil to be able to recover, to say nothing about new difficulties. The winegrowers had to exploit the fruits of their labours and market their product. To quote Jigoro Kano: “Man is not judged on the number of times that he falls but on the number of times that he picks himself up.” (1) Once again, those determined men took up the challenge; they visited restaurant owners and wholesalers. This action was rewarded and led to wide distribution of Saumur wines well beyond normal limits.”

These unforeseeable circumstances forced the winegrowers to persist in their commitments. How did their solidarity take shape?

n search of recognition, the winegrowers learned to value ancestral heritage and their production from conception to tasting. In 1959 the first vintage of Saumur Champigny, an appellation limited to nine villages, which had been created two years previously, was marketed and rewarded the winegrowers’ efforts. Saumur Champigny experienced rapid national expansion thanks to the contribution of the Cave de Saumur. This diversification was a success and the volume of wine production increased. Investments were necessary for research, for the creation of a second winemaking well and the acquisition of the biggest wine press in the world at that time. In this way, the Cave of Saumur became widely involved in the distribution of Saumur AOC red, white and rosé wines. The Cavegave their support to the appellation of Crémant de Loire which received its official decree in October 1975.”

“Jean-Claude DUVEAU was a courageous, modern man. At the arrival of new winegrowers and in reply to the increase in production, he undertook the construction of two other wineries in 1990 and 2000. Basic principles for good viticulture were set down in terms and conditions to ensure consistency and traceability before and during the whole cycle of production. Ecological and integrated agriculture also guaranteed the authenticity of the products. In 1977 the Cave de Saumur drew up a map describing all the plots of land and recording the aim to promote the richness of the soil, subsoil and terroirs. Today, this knowledge has given eleven localities opportunities to develop specific vintages.

You were appointed president in 2002, how do you advocate consistency, while encouraging diversity?

"The Cave de Saumur has a positive attitude of openness and development. Young winegrowers who are joining our cooperative* bring with them their heritage, knowledge and personalities which we acknowledge and capitalize on. The Cave de Saumur promotes creative competition between wine growers which, like their localities, micro-terroirs par excellence, distinguish their culture*. The Cave de Saumur is also developing specific vinifications (winemaking processes) on the eleven localities, accentuating their particular specialties."

What are your priorities today?

“Our values and aspirations are always geared towards protecting the environment and preserving expertise; the keystone of the quality of our wines. It is very important for us to present our wines in their own environment and diversity, with tourist circuits through the vines and visits to our wine cellars, thus exhibiting our origins and distinctive features.”.

In this way this land is a real memorial and remains a real passion and fascination for the community of winegrowers of the Saumur region. This mutual attachment and competitive spirit survives in the land and human values and as a result, creates strength and diversity.

The Saumur region is part of the Val de Loire which is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(1) Jigoro Kano, Japanese Martial Arts Master, who lived in the beginning of the XXth century.