20 minutes south of SAUMUR, in the commune of Saint Martin de Sanzay (79), the Château du Bourg Joly is a rare wine estate from the ^16th and 18th ^centuries with remarkable buildings testifying to a century of success in vines and wine.

Today it is surrounded by 6 hectares of vineyards on the slopes of Puy de Mont (79), in Saint Martin de Sanzay
The old facilities have been restored and adapted to current practices, in particular a remarkable, semi-underground and vaulted cellar built in 1836.     A new, very modern winery was built in 2022.
Two enthusiasts of wine, botany, geology and heritage have undertaken to be artisans concerned with the well-being of the vine and precise and rigorous practitioners in the cellar; their objectives are to produce authentic and delicious wines.                              

Historical

In 2007, Inessa Grouvel Varchavskaia and Menno Grouvel, passionate about geology, botany and heritage, became owners of the Château du Bourg Joly and the surrounding plots, including 3 hectares of vineyards under lease.
A wine estate since the date on the front of the old wine cellar 1560, it was embellished in the 18th ^century and enlarged in the 19th ^century by remodeling the wine-making building with the construction of a semi-underground vaulted cellar of exceptional quality.
The vineyard was restored in 2019 around the existing buildings, encompassing 6 hectares of plots on the eastern slope of the hill. The built heritage houses the winemaking, aging, and sales facilities, adapted to modern hygiene and logistics techniques while preserving the authenticity and practices of the past. Organic conversion was completed in 2025.

The aging cellar and the new winery

The old wine cellar has been preserved as is for public use, and in a former barn, a new wine cellar was inaugurated for the 2021 harvest to ensure optimal hygiene and safety conditions for vinification of the grapes. The cellar houses the barrels and aging tanks.

Vineyard management

The plots adjoin the botanical park of the Château, in particular 1 hectare embedded within it, fully benefiting from the flora and fauna of this diversity.
The soils of the estate are clay-limestone interspersed with fluvial siliceous gravels on a substrate of Cenomanian marls; generous but difficult to work, easily compacted with the mechanical footprint.
To maintain soil health and permeability, the chosen plant cover is applied to all plots; terracing is carried out with horse-drawn implements whenever possible. Organic treatments are sprayed using a micro-tractor, pruning is minimal and primarily done manually; wood is burned.
The pruning method favors bunches close to the vines, most often using double Guyot training.
The vineyards are planted with traditional Cabernet Franc vines over thirty years old and Chenin Blanc vines over sixty years old. A massal selection of this Chenin Blanc has been replanted on an adjacent plot to safeguard the quality of the wine and maintain biodiversity.

Harvesting and Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand. Any process that crushes the grapes is prohibited. Indigenous yeasts are used. Fermentation is natural, without heat treatment.
For white wines, the lees are kept in the barrels for aging, with regular stirring and rigorous topping up. Light filtration is carried out if necessary. Sulfiting is kept to a minimum.
For wines made from Cabernet Franc, natural maceration without additives (yeasts, sulfites, etc.), regular racking, no temperature control, gravity draining. Press juice aged in barrels. Light filtration if necessary.
The rosé wine, classified as IGP Val de Loire, is inspired by the tradition of the abbesses of Fontevraud. The Cabernet Franc grapes are harvested at full maturity and pressed directly.

Botanical Park

Since 2007, the park has been recreated with often rare trees and remarkable plants: peonies, irises, roses, etc. The botanical garden and the vineyards form an integrated whole, governed by a commitment to prioritizing the flourishing and natural health of the plants, the beauty of the landscapes, and the diversity of the ecosystems. The vineyard is part of the park, a major biodiversity reserve resulting from a wide variety of plant species and carefully encouraged wildlife. The park is a refuge for the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), and the last census recorded more than 35 bird species as well as a significant presence of bats.

Concerts

Music has been a feature of Bourg Joly for over 10 years, with private concerts showcasing French and Russian pianists. The Friends of Bourg Joly support these artists, both young and established.
Some recordings on YouTube: Alexandra Kassatkina, Dmitry Batalov, Martin Jaspard, Jonathan Benichou, Nikita Mndoyants, Théotime Gillot, et al.