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In the first episode of the Entre Deux Vins podcast from Oeni, François Régis de Fougeroux, director of Domaine Langlois in Saumur, invites you to dive into the fascinating history of the Langlois-Château house and discover the secrets behind the production of exceptional crémants.
The History of Langlois-Château: A Partnership of Craft and Land
Langlois-Château is one of Saumur’s oldest houses, founded in 1885 by Édouard Langlois and his wife, Jeanne Château. Their love story gave birth to a prestigious house, bringing together winemaking know-how and an exceptional terroir. "It was a love story from the start," François Régis de Fougeroux explains. Édouard Langlois, a cellar master at a neighboring house, joined forces with the Bonnmann family, owners of vineyards in Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent, to found what would become Langlois-Château. After the First World War, it was Jeanne, Langlois’s widow, who carried on the business and kept the domaine name, preserving the couple’s legacy.
The Land at the Heart of Langlois’s Identity
François Régis de Fougeroux, the son of a farmer, has always felt a deep connection to the land. When he arrived at Domaine Langlois, he was especially drawn to the chance to work directly with the terroir, a fundamental part of producing high-quality crémants. "That contact with the land was essential," he says. Langlois is one of the few houses in Saumur to own its own vineyards, allowing François Régis de Fougeroux to oversee the entire production chain, from vine to bottle.
The domaine’s DNA rests on this philosophy: "You have to control the upstream side," he explains. Langlois-Château takes pride in owning its vineyards and in managing the production process from start to finish, giving the wines a singular identity and remarkable precision.
The Art of Blending: A Patient Craft
Blending wines is a crucial moment in crémant production. But contrary to what you might think, it’s not just a simple adjustment of grape varieties. "Blending isn’t a revolution, but long-term work," François Régis says. At Domaine Langlois, each cuvée comes from grapes grown on different terroirs, carefully selected for their unique character. This approach allows the domaine’s identity to be refined year after year.
Separating cuvées by terroir and grape variety, combined with aging on the lees, creates bubbles of exceptional finesse. Extended aging for the crémants, sometimes for up to three years, gives them the complexity and structure they need to develop in perfect harmony.
A Commitment to Organic Farming
Domaine Langlois has made the strategic choice to convert to organic farming, a decision that reflects the domaine’s deep commitment to preserving its terroir. "All our vineyards will be organic in 2025," François Régis proudly announces. The goal is to ensure a sustainable future for crémant production while respecting the environment. The domaine currently farms 63 hectares organically and plans to gradually convert all of its vineyards.
Chenin: A Signature Grape for Crémants
Chenin, the domaine’s flagship grape, lies at the heart of Langlois’s identity. François Régis speaks about it with real passion: "Chenin is a grape that really expresses terroir." It has a unique ability to reveal the minerality and subtlety of the soil where it’s grown. That makes Chenin ideal for crémant production, where acidity and freshness are essential to creating a refined mousse.
Innovation in the Service of Tradition: The First Blanc de Blancs Cuvée
In a spirit of innovation while preserving tradition, Langlois-Château launched its first Blanc de Blancs cuvée in 2019. This cuvée marks an important milestone in the domaine’s history, as it embodies its vision for the future of crémant. "This cuvée represents our guiding line," François Régis explains. It was made from organic grapes grown in the domaine’s own vineyards, with the aim of bringing out the very essence of the Saumur terroir.
Conclusion: Discovering Domaine Langlois
François Régis de Fougeroux closes the interview by inviting listeners to discover Domaine Langlois in Saumur. "We’d be delighted to welcome you and introduce you to our wine world," he says, inviting everyone to come and explore the history and passion behind every bottle. Now focused on an organic future, the domaine continues to showcase the Loire Valley’s expertise while honoring its past.
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This video interview with François Régis de Fougeroux shines a light on the richness of the Saumur terroir, the importance of the Chenin grape, and Domaine Langlois’s commitment to producing crémants of exceptional quality. A must for lovers of sparkling wine and great terroir stories. We also invite you to watch the second episode, "Interview with Marielle Cazaux of Château La Conseillante," where she shares her vision of wine, the evolution of viticultural practices, and her remarkable journey in the wine world.
