La Pépière 2025

Marc Ollivier transformed Muscadet's reputation with his precise, mineral-driven wines from the granite soils of the Loire. Now led by Rémi Branger and Gwénaëlle Leroux, La Pépière continues to produce some of the most age-worthy and expressive Melon de Bourgogne in the region.

Right at the edge of Brittany, Domaine de la Pépière is located in the village of Maisdon-sur-Sèvre, between the Sèvre and the Maine rivers.

The name La Pépière has its roots in the word "Pépie", which means thirst in French, and La Pépière's remarkable wines certainly quench the thirst. Marc Ollivier, who grew up in the hamlet of La Pépière, created the estate in 1984. Marc quickly set himself apart in the region thanks to his meticulous viticulture and a measured, considered approach in the cellar.

Over the years, Domaine de la Pépière has grown by acquiring new plots, carefully chosen for the age of their vines and the quality and originality of their terroirs. The Domaine has also worked actively on organic conversion since the arrival of Rémi in 2007. Gwénaëlle, who came in 2013, pushed things further with a shift towards biodynamic viticulture. Rémi and Gwen became partners of the estate and eventually took over from Marc, who retired a couple of years ago.

The Domaine today consists of 38 hectares, most of it Melon de Bourgogne and a little Cabernet Franc and Côt. More than half of the estate falls within Cru limits, and La Pépière is one of the very few in the area pushing to promote the variations of soil and micro-climates that the appellation offers, despite being a region dominated by large négociant operations.

Things are also different in the cellar from the regional norm, with more judicious applications of SO₂ and a fearlessness to push sur-lies élevages to new heights of three, four and even five years.

With Marc's legendary legacy and the brilliant work of Rémi and Gwen, the future looks bright at La Pépière!