Brendan Stater West, Saumur Rouge, Anjou-Saumur, Loire, France, 2023

Producer Profile

Originally, from Oregon in the US, Brendan was not born into a winemaking family, just a family that “loves and drinks wine every day” and never thought that he would end up working in the industry.

However, on arrival in France to teach English in 2007 he caught the wine bug and has not looked back since. Beginning his new career by joining the team at Domaine Guiberteau, Brendan still works there today and at the beginning of 2015, Romain proposed that Brendan could lease a 1ha plot of young Chenin vines in Bizay, next to the Clos de Guichaux, to begin producing his own wines. This first vintage was bottled at the end of March 2017, having spent 12 months in neutral oak barrels (225L, 300L and 400L), followed by 6 months in stainless steel tank. Brendan seeks the same purity and precision in his wines as Domaine Guiberteau, with a ‘transparent’ reflection of the specific terroir. This estate follows environmentally conscientious philosophies, with discipline and rigour aimed at a low-interventionist approach.

Viticulture

With some selected old-vine parcels in Brézé for the Chenin Blanc and La Ripaille for Cabernet Franc Brendan, recently bought a property in Chacé, within the appellation of Saumur-Champigny. He works organically although is not certified.