Ferme de la Sansonnière – Mark Angeli and the Living Soul of Anjou Noir

A cult, artisanal and visionary estate where vines thrive within a fully living agricultural ecosystem

Located in Thouarcé / Rochefort-sur-Loire, in the heart of Anjou Noir, the Ferme de la Sansonnière has become, since its creation in 1984 by Mark Angeli, one of the Loire Valley’s most emblematic and influential estates. A charismatic artisan-vigneron and a leading figure of the natural wine movement, Angeli has shaped a unique place — conceived as a living farm where vines, orchards, cereals and livestock coexist in a coherent agroecological balance.

This holistic vision, centred on biodiversity and soil vitality, has elevated Sansonnière to cult status. Its Chenin Blanc wines are renowned for their sincerity, energy and depth — wines deeply rooted in the earth, vibrating with the tension of Anjou’s schist.

Terroir & Vineyard – The Mineral Heart of Anjou Noir

The vineyard covers 7 to 8 hectares, rooted in the defining soils of Anjou Noir. Blue and brown schists dominate, imparting linear tension, vibrant energy and a striking mineral expression. Pockets of tuffeau, clay and sandstone add lighter, more aerial nuances to the wines.

Many vines are old and farmed with a profoundly peasant spirit. Some plots are left untrellised, allowing the vine to grow in a freer, more natural form. Since 2013, no ploughing has been carried out: maintained grass cover protects the soils, nourishes microbial life and strengthens the vine’s natural resilience.

The sovereign grape is Chenin Blanc, interpreted here with remarkable intensity. A few rows of Grolleau and Cabernet complete the plantings, expressing another facet of the estate’s agricultural sensibility.

Philosophy & Farming – A Living Farm, a Fully Integrated Vineyard

Sansonnière stands as a model of biodynamic and agroecological farming, where the vine is never isolated from its environment. Fertility comes from animals, composts, biodynamic preparations and plant infusions, all used to maintain natural balance. Treatments are minimal, tailored to the vintage and the climate, in service of soil life and ecological harmony.

Harvesting is done entirely by hand, in multiple passes, to achieve perfect ripeness. Mark Angeli pursues total freedom, willingly stepping outside appellation rules when they do not serve the wine’s truth. Several cuvées therefore bear the simple but deliberate designation Vin de France.

Winemaking & Ageing – Purity, Patience & Transparency

In the cellar, everything is designed to preserve fruit integrity. Fermentations are spontaneous, carried out by indigenous yeasts. No oenological additives are used. The wines are neither fined nor filtered. Sulphur is applied with extreme restraint, and often omitted depending on the cuvée and the vintage.

Ageing takes place in a variety of neutral vessels — old foudres, seasoned barrels, concrete or stainless-steel tanks — chosen for their ability to accompany the wine without shaping it. The result is a collection of living wines, expressive and vibrant, with an unmistakable energy.

Wine Style – Vibration, Minerality & Absolute Sincerity

Sansonnière’s Chenin Blancs display laser-cut minerality, vibrant tension and a density that never weighs down the wine. Aromas evoke quince, ripe pear, delicate honey, citrus zest or subtle smokiness from the schist. Their ageing potential is often astonishing, even in the absence of added sulphur.

The reds — from Grolleau or Cabernet — follow the same living aesthetic: crunchy fruit, natural freshness, delicate tannins and a bright, lifted energy. Each cuvée expresses a place, a season, and a raw, unmasked material.

Signature Cuvées

La Lune – Vin de France / Anjou Blanc
The estate’s flagship wine. A luminous, precise Chenin with vibrant tension and radiant depth. A signature expression of Sansonnière.

La Lune Noire
A rarer, darker and more intense interpretation of La Lune. Profound, linear and impeccably focused Chenin Blanc.

Les Blanderies / Vieilles Vignes des Blanderies
A high-intensity single vineyard. Deep, saline and razor-sharp — one of the great Chenins of the Loire.

Coteau du Houet (Bonnezeaux)
A natural sweet wine of remarkable concentration, with exotic fruit, candied citrus and honeyed depth. Rare, moving and unforgettable.

Les Gélinettes – Red
A modern expression of Grolleau. Juicy, bright, pure and vibrant — an elegant articulation of this historic Loire grape.

Rosé d’un Jour
A cult natural rosé: luminous, expressive, slightly cloudy and disarmingly sincere. A highly sought-after cuvée.

Conclusion – A Cult Signature of Anjou Noir

Through its complete commitment to biodynamics, its holistic agricultural vision and the singular depth of its Chenins, the Ferme de la Sansonnière stands among the Loire Valley’s most influential estates. Mark Angeli has forged a style that is vibrant, pure and unmistakably authentic — a benchmark for those seeking the truest expressions of Chenin Blanc and of contemporary Loire identity.