List of products by brand DOMAINE OLGA RAFFAULT

Based in Savigny-en-Véron in the heart of the Chinon appellation, Domaine Olga Raffault farms 24 hectares under certified organic agriculture across a mosaic of soils — sands and gravels, argilo-siliceous and argilo-calcareous — giving its Cabernet franc a rare precision of terroir. Founded in 1931, the estate owes its standing to Olga Raffault, who continued the family work alone after 1947 with remarkable resolve. At Halles Quercamps, we selected this estate for the diversity of its parcels, its rigorous organic approach, and the stature of cuvées such as Les Picasses — introduced in 1983 and now a worldwide benchmark for Cabernet franc. Today guided by Sylvie Raffault and Éric de la Vigerie.

Domaine Olga Raffault stands among the most respected names in the Chinon appellation. Situated in Savigny-en-Véron, where the Vienne meets the Loire, the estate cultivates 24 hectares under certified organic agriculture across a richly varied patchwork of soils that captures the full complexity of this Loire vineyard.

A family estate rooted in Chinon's history

The estate was founded in 1931, but it entered the annals of Loire wine when Olga Raffault, widowed in 1947, chose to carry on the work herself alongside Ernest Zeinninger. At a time when few women ran wine estates in France, her determination shaped not only the domaine's identity but its reputation across the appellation. Decade by decade, the estate built a body of work grounded in parcel-by-parcel understanding of Savigny-en-Véron's terroirs. The milestone came in 1983 with the introduction of Les Picasses, a cuvée drawn from the estate's argilo-calcareous hillside plots that has since become a global reference for Cabernet franc — cited by critics and sommeliers alike as one of the Loire's defining wines. Today, the estate is guided by Sylvie Raffault and Éric de la Vigerie, who took over in 2000 and have continued the organic transition with the same quiet rigour that has always defined this address.

Terroir: a mosaic of soils across Savigny-en-Véron

The 24 hectares are spread across three distinct soil types, each shaping the character of the wines in a different way. The Les Barnabés plots rest on sands and gravels, producing wines of early freshness and aromatic lift. The Les Peuilles parcels sit on argilo-siliceous soils, lending structure and mid-palate depth. The Les Picasses hillside, with its argilo-calcareous bedrock, yields the estate's most age-worthy wines — firm, mineral, and built for the cellar. The vineyards face the slopes and plateaux of the Vienne riverbank, benefiting from the moderating influence of the river and the free-draining nature of these ancient soils.

Organic farming and winemaking philosophy

Domaine Olga Raffault holds certified organic status across its entire vineyard. The approach in the cellar is equally attentive: the estate works to express each parcel on its own terms, with élevage calibrated to the character of each harvest rather than a fixed formula. Cabernet franc is the dominant variety, vinified across the red and rosé range, while Chenin blanc accounts for the estate's white wines — a grape that finds a natural home in the Loire's cooler, mineral-driven terroirs.

The wine range at Domaine Olga Raffault

Chinon Rouge — Cabernet franc across several parcel-specific cuvées, from the approachable freshness of Les Barnabés to the structured depth of Les Picasses
Chinon Blanc — Chenin blanc, vinified with precision, offering Loire minerality and natural tension
Chinon Rosé — Cabernet franc rosé, dry and food-friendly, with the characteristic Loire freshness

Why we have selected Domaine Olga Raffault

We have listed Domaine Olga Raffault because it represents everything we look for in a Loire estate: a clear sense of place, an honest farming philosophy, and wines that reward patience. The diversity of the parcels — three distinct soil types within a single appellation — gives us a range that speaks to different occasions and different cellaring ambitions. Les Picasses in particular is a wine we recommend without hesitation to anyone building a serious cellar: it ages gracefully over ten to fifteen years, developing the earthy, graphite complexity that makes mature Chinon one of France's most underrated pleasures. For the table, these wines are natural partners for rillettes and rillons from the Touraine, roast guinea fowl, or a well-aged goat's cheese from the Loire valley. This is an estate for the confirmed amateur who values provenance, integrity, and a story worth telling.