French castles have been significant historically and culturally. They have stood out during many focal points of history and it is no different when it comes to the wine industry. Among those castles that have been involved in winemaking is the Piéguë Castle. Its history dates back to the 1500s. Through the multiple buyers to have resided in the castle, adding a few touches of their own, it was in 1920 that that winemaking took off in the French Piéguë Castle.

The Van Der Hecht family planted the first vines which were spread over 35 hectares. Three generations of the Van Der Hecht family operated the vineyards until 2004 when the Thomas family bought the property. Fast forward to 2019, when Laëtitia Huet moved in with her husband Simon Cibois and took over the reins of the winery and the castle. Laëtitia, a student of oenology, journeyed across Canada for 12 years where she learnt about wines and became a cellar master. She and Simon returned to France to pursue their dream of having their own winery, which became Chateau Piéguë. 

Their craft and perseverance were greatly awarded at the 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards, where two of their wines stole the show. 

Crémant de Loire Château

Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc grapes are harvested very early to make this sparkling wine. The highest awarded sparkling wine at the competition, Crémant de Loire Château scored 96 points and won a Double Gold Medal and the Sparkling Wine of the Year award. The Crémant de Loire Château is defined by its silky body and complexity on the nose and palate. There are notes of honeycomb, white flowers and bosc pear. The finesse and the freshness of this bubbly make it an ideal food pairing option. The touch of richness makes it a versatile food pairing option. Pair it with a lemon meringue pie and it’s a match made in heaven! 

Chenin de Piéguë

A light-bodied white wine, the Chenin de Piéguë was among the best silver medal-winning wines, scoring 88 points at the competition. This cuvée is made from ripe and concentrated grapes, aged in oak barrels for 9 to 12 months. On the nose, you can smell notes of ripe yellow apple, daffodils and applesauce. The palate is dominated by citrus fruits and is a great expression of the terroir. Chenin de Piéguë is a rich and nicely textured wine that retains its vibrancy. It ends on a refreshing note with its bright acidity. Pair it with a pike-perch with white butter for a perfect evening. 

Laëtitia and Simon have created an ensemble of terrific wines, red, white, rosés and sparkling that are a pleasure to drink. All of their wines are a true reflection of the Loire Valley. The vineyards are spread across 27 hectares, divided equally between white and red grape varietals. 

Chateau Piéguë, Source Facebook

The land that is not planted with vines is dedicated to guest rooms where calm and nature reign supreme. The rooms open up to views of the vineyards that charm you from first sight. An authentic vineyard that will remain with you long after your visit. To get constant updates from Chateau Piéguë, follow them on Facebook and Instagram. 

This is what some guests said of their stay: