Domaine Antoine Sanzay
True Vigneron Spirit – Antoine Sanzay lives and breathes his vineyards, farming organically and crafting wines that begin with care in the soil.
From Coop to Cult – What began as grape growing for the cooperative has evolved into one of Saumur-Champigny’s most revered small estates.
Terroir-Driven Winemaking – Minimal intervention in the cellar, native yeasts, and used oak bring out the soul of each site.
Wines of Quiet Power – Elegant Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc cuvées that speak clearly of place and are coveted by drinkers worldwide.
Domaine Antoine Sanzay – Saumur-Champigny in Its Most Honest Form
Antoine Sanzay didn’t set out to become one of the most respected names in the Loire. But over the past two decades, through quiet dedication and a deep connection to his land, he has emerged as one of Saumur-Champigny’s purest and most soulful voices. Based in the village of Varrains, at the heart of the appellation, Antoine represents the seventh generation of his family to tend vines in the region. Yet it wasn’t until 1999 that he began making wine himself, transitioning from selling grapes to the local co-op to bottling under his own name. His first solo vintage came in 2002; by 2014, he had fully stepped away from the cooperative, committing entirely to his own path.
Antoine is, above all else, a true vigneron, someone whose daily life is anchored in the vineyard. He is intimately involved in every detail, farming his 11 hectares with organic methods since 2011 (certified in 2014), always guided by the belief that great wine is made in the vineyard. No herbicides, no shortcuts, just patient, attentive farming rooted in respect for the land and its rhythms.
In the cellar, he applies the same sensitivity: native yeast fermentations, minimal sulfur, and gentle élevage in used oak barrels, allowing each wine to express its origins with clarity and precision. His wines aren’t made to impress with power, they resonate through finesse, purity, and depth.
Among Antoine’s holdings is a treasured parcel in Les Poyeux, one of Saumur-Champigny’s most fabled lieux-dits, and the source of his most sought-after wine. Other cuvées, like La Haye Dampierre, La Paterne, and Les Terres Rouges, each offer a different lens on the nuances of the region’s limestone and clay soils. His Chenin Blanc, Les Salles Martin, is equally compelling, saline, focused, and quietly profound.
Antoine Sanzay doesn’t chase trends or headlines. His work is grounded in authenticity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to place. The wines speak for themselves, pure, expressive, and unmistakably rooted in Saumur, and are now found and sought after by wine enthusiasts around the world.