Chez Gaston
Panzoult, near Chinon, Loire Valley

Domaine Charles Pain

Charles Pain with guests sampling his wine

The comfortable wine tasting cellar

The Domaine Charles Pain covers 28 hectares of vines of AOC Chinon situated in the heart of the Touraine on the right bank of the River Vienne to the east of the medieval town of Chinon and amidst the small communities of Panzoult, Cravant and L'Ile Bouchard.
The extensive vines of the Cabernet Franc are cultivated expertly in a soil typical of this region, a mixture of sand and gravel on a chalk or clay base, to produce a grape of great maturity.
From this, three types of Chinon wine is produced:
La Cuvee "Domaine"
This delightful red wine is left to ferment in a vat for 15/20 days. Then in the Spring it is removed from the vat and bottled to produce a round and fruity wine, very drinkable in the first year but can equally be kept for 3/5 years. A fine accompaniment to grills or red and white meat. Serve between 16° and 18°.
La Cuvee "Prestige"
A red wine made from the richest grapes and left to ferment for 6/8 months in old oak casks. Specially treated and filtered, it should be left for one year after bottling and can be kept for 8 to 12 years.
Le "Rose de Saignee"
This rose is obtained after the grapes are placed in the vat for fermentation. After several hours of cold maceration, the white juice turns into rose and it is at this point that a certain percentage of the vat's volume is drained, or bled, to produce the grape's richness. This juice is transported and fermented at 18° to 22° in a rust proof vat to produce a natural dry rose, plump and lush, with a highly aromatic opulence. This wine should be drunk chilled at 12° to 14° with grills or red and white meats. It is also ideal with fish served in a sauce.