La Grange Tiphaine

Coralie and Damien Delecheneau make wines together – in fact, that's the name of one of their cuvées – for the best, sometimes enduring the worst when spring frosts devastate their vines. They are also musicians, aptly naming their white (100% Chenin Blanc) and their red (AOP Touraine, Côt and Cabernet Franc) La Clef de Sol (The G Clef). They play their part, imbued with humility and sincerity, a well-rehearsed score without a single false note, on fifteen hectares of flinty clay soils planted with Chenin Blanc, Côt (Malbec), Gamay, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

Coralie and Damien's gentle music drifts here, amidst the vines, some of which (120 years old) date back to the 19th century. "It's a blend of memory, listening, and observation." Damien Delecheneau studied viticulture and oenology in Bordeaux, where he met Coralie. After a stint in the vineyards of California and South Africa, he took over La Grange Tiphaine in 2002, a family estate passed down through five generations.

Coralie joined him in 2008. After organic farming, the Delecheneaus turned to biodynamics. "Terroir is the soil, the climate, the people. But something was missing: with biodynamics, we seek intuition, to communicate with ourselves about our passion. It's a bit like music."

Visits and tastings are available Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and it is advisable to book in advance. During the harvest, booking is mandatory.

Information

Domain Name:
La Grange Tiphaine
Winemaker's Name:
Coralie & Damien Delécheneau
Country:
France
Region:
Loire Valley
Appellations:
Aoc montlouis-sur-loire, Aoc touraine, Aoc touraine-amboise, Vin de France
Farming:
Organic / Biodynamic (Ecocert, Biodyvin)
Grape varieties:
Cabernet, Chenin, Côt, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet franc, Gamay et cabernet franc, Gamay, Grolleau, Pineau d’aunis, Pinot noir, Chasselas, Verdelot, Orbois, Ugni blanc