DOMAINE DES FORGES

What DOMAINE DES FORGES does

Domaine des Forges is a fifth-generation family-owned winery located in Saint-Aubin de Luigné, in the Anjou region of France's Val de Loire, founded in 1890 and currently operated by Stéphane and Séverine Branchereau. The estate cultivates 47 hectares of vineyards on schist, sandstone, and quartz soils, almost entirely hand-harvested, with a portfolio of approximately 23 SKUs across five categories: dry whites (Savennières, Anjou Blanc), sweet and liquoreux wines (Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru, Coteaux du Layon), reds (Anjou Rouge, Anjou Villages), rosés (Cabernet d'Anjou, Rosé de Loire), and sparkling (Crémant de Loire). Its flagship, Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru, is one of roughly 20 producers authorized under the only Grand Cru appellation of the Loire Valley.

Winemaking relies on traditional methods — manual harvesting across multiple passes, pneumatic pressing, fermentation and aging in thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks and an air-conditioned barrel cellar — combined with environmental practices certified at HVE Level 3 since 2019, including use of bacterisol for soil balance and pheromone-based sexual confusion for pest control. All vinification is in-house; bottling, aging, and storage occur on the estate.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model through an online boutique (min. 6-bottle orders), six-city Vignerons Indépendants salon participation, three professional trade shows (Angers, Düsseldorf, Paris), a network of French cavistes, and select export channels including V.O.S. Selections in the US. Pricing ranges from approximately €6.90 per bottle (Anjou Rouge) to €15–€50+ for Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru and prestige cuvées. Two Gîtes de France accommodations (La Terrasse, 10-person; La Sablère, 8-person, renovated 2025) drive wine tourism and on-site tastings. Customer segments span local connoisseurs, HORECA buyers (restaurants, wine bars, hotels, independent merchants), wine tourists, and international press-driven demand — evidenced by editorial coverage in The New York Times, Le Monde, Le Figaro, The Guardian, and Vinum Magazine, and repeat Guide Hachette 'Coup de Cœur' distinctions for 2019 and 2020 vintages.

Name

DOMAINE DES FORGES

Legal name

Domaine des Forges

Website

https://domainedesforges.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Domaine des Forges is a fifth-generation, family-owned winery in Saint-Aubin de Luigné (Val de Loire, France) producing premium Loire wines across dry whites, sweet/liquoreux, reds, rosés, and sparkling, including the only Grand Cru of the Loire (Quarts-de-Chaume). It sells direct-to-consumer via e-commerce, wine fairs, gîtes, and select export channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

French Winery / Loire Valley Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (31213), Grape Vineyards (111332), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Luxury Farmhouses, Country Houses & Vineyard Estates (THAMAEAG), Wine Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAB)

Keywords

• Loire Valley wines
• Chenin blanc wines
• Grand Cru wines
• French winery production
• Wine tourism accommodations

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Aubin de Luigné

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wine Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of still wines (reds, whites, rosés), sparkling wines (Crémant de Loire), and sweet/liquoreux wines through the estate's online boutique and at wine fairs. Products are sold in various formats including standard bottles and premium gift boxes.
2. Gîte Accommodations: Two Gîtes de France certified holiday accommodations (La Terrasse with 10-person capacity and La Sablère with 8-person capacity) offering vineyard stays and wine tourism experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Domaine des Forges is a fifth-generation, family-owned Loire Valley winery producing premium wines from 47 hectares of vineyards in Saint-Aubin de Luigné, Anjou. Its portfolio spans dry whites (Savennières, Anjou Blanc), sweet/liquoreux wines (Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru, Coteaux du Layon), reds (Anjou Rouge, Anjou Villages), rosés, and sparkling wines (Crémant de Loire), all based primarily on Chenin blanc with Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon. The estate also operates two Gîte de France vacation rentals for wine tourism, with sales conducted direct-to-consumer through its online boutique, wine fairs, and a network of independent wine merchants.

Product overview

Domaine des Forges is a fifth-generation winery producing a portfolio of Loire Valley wines across five categories: Dry Whites (7 products including Savennières, Anjou Blanc), Sweet/Liquoreux Wines (6 products including Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru, Coteaux du Layon), Reds (4 products including Anjou Rouge, Anjou Villages), Rosés (3 products including Cabernet d'Anjou, Rosé de Loire), and Sparkling (2 products including Crémant de Loire). The estate also offers gîte accommodations for wine tourism. All wines are sold through an online shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru The estate's flagship sweet wine and the only Grand Cru of the Loire Valley, made from botrytized Chenin grapes hand-harvested through multiple passes in the Quarts-de-Chaume appellation. Targeted at wine connoisseurs and fine dining establishments.
• Coteaux du Layon 1er Cru Chaume A prestigious sweet wine from the 78-hectare enclave of 1er Cru Chaume, made from Chenin on schist, sandstone, and quartz soils with an average vine age of 38 years.
• Coteaux du Layon "Cuvée des Forges" A select assemblage of the estate's finest terroir wines, 100% Chenin harvested at over-maturity through three successive selective harvests.
• Coteaux du Layon Sweet wine from Chenin harvested at over-maturity on schist, quartz, and clay soils in Saint-Aubin de Luigné, the 'Pearl of Layon'.
• Coteaux du Layon Villages Saint Aubin A villages-tier Coteaux du Layon from Saint-Aubin de Luigné with vines over 40 years old, offering fresh citrus and exotic fruit notes.
• 1er Cru Chaume Coteaux du Layon "Les Onnis" A premier cru from a cadastral parcel adjacent to Quarts-de-Chaume, with 100% botrytized grapes aged in both tank and barrels.
• Savennières "Roche aux Moines" A dry white wine from 33 hectares of rocky outcrops overlooking the Loire, made from Chenin on sandstone schist with volcanic veins, aged 11 months in barriques.
• Savennières Moulin du Gué A dry white from 1.5 hectares on the Savennières plateau facing the Moulin du Gué, made from Chenin on sandstone schist and eolian sands, aged 10 months in 3000L foudre.
• Savennières "Le Clos du Papillon" A dry white from a butterfly-shaped clos on southwest-facing slopes, made from Chenin on sandstone schist with exceptional sunshine exposure.
• Anjou Blanc "L'Audace" A 100% Chenin white from Saint-Aubin de Luigné, using innovative methods since 2000 with meticulous vineyard work and aging in 400L barrels for 11 months.
• Anjou Villages "Les 3 C" A family tribute cuvée named after three generations (Claude, Corentin, Camille), made from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 3000L thermoregulated foudre.
• Anjou Rouge A Cabernet Franc-based red from the schist slopes of Saint-Aubin de Luigné, offering velvety tannins and floral notes of violet.
• "Poil de Lièvre" Anjou Rouge A more structured Anjou Rouge named after a cadastral parcel, from 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon on schist and purple sandstone soils.
• Gamay "Friandise" A fresh, fruity Gamay from Saint-Aubin de Luigné slopes, vinified semi-carbonically with minimal tannins for easy summer drinking.
• Cabernet d'Anjou Demi-Sec A demi-sec rosé from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, vinified through 18 hours of maceration with fermentation blocked by tangential filtration for sweetness.
• Cabernet "Le R" An exceptional late-harvest rosé from over-matured Cabernet grapes, hand-harvested in late October with very limited production.
• Rosé de Loire sec "La Java" A dry, fruity rosé from 100% Grolleau (sometimes with Cabernet Franc), made in the style of Loire guinguettes for festive summer drinking.
• Chardonnay Val de Loire IGP An IGP Val de Loire Chardonnay from vines over 20 years old on schist soils, with rich, elegant flavors of toasted almond and exotic fruits.
• Sauvignon An IGP Vin de Pays Blanc from Sauvignon grapes on schist soils, offering crisp, elegant wines with cassis notes, best consumed young.
• "Tendresse" 100% Chenin Demi-Sec A demi-sec expression of Chenin with 30-year average vines, vinified at low temperature with aging on fine lees for extra roundness.
• Crémant de Loire Traditional method sparkling wine, predominantly Chenin (90%) with Chardonnay and Cabernet, aged minimum 12 months on laths before remuage and disgorgement.
• Rayon de Merveille Rosé A pink sparkling wine created for Raymonde Branchereau's retirement, from Cabernet and Grolleau, with fine, light bubbles for festive occasions.
• Le "S" Cuvée Prestige A prestige cuvée named for 'Sensationnel', from the finest botrytized Chenin selected at winter's onset, described as an 'elixir of youth' that is virtually immortal.
• Gîte de France Accommodation Two Gîte de France-certified holiday accommodations: 'La Terrasse' (up to 10 people) and 'La Sablère' (up to 8 people, renovated 2025) located in the heart of the vineyard for wine tourism stays.

Quantifiable outcome

• Awarded 'Best Sweet Wine in the World' (Grande Médaille d'Or + Révélation Internationale) at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2022 for Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Maison Ackerman: Largest Loire sparkling wine producer. Overlaps with Domaine des Forges' Crémant de Loire offering and Loire regional presence, but operates at much larger scale as a broad Loire incumbent.
• Bouvet-Ladubay: Major Loire sparkling wine house. Adjacent overlap with Domaine des Forges' Crémant de Loire production, but with significantly larger scale and broader global distribution.

Direct peers

• Domaine Huet: Iconic Vouvray family estate specializing in Chenin Blanc across demi-sec, sec, and moelleux styles. Comparable as a heritage Loire Chenin producer with similar DTC and export-oriented go-to-market.
• Domaine des Baumard: Family-owned Loire estate producing Savennières, Quarts-de-Chaume, and Coteaux du Layon from Chenin Blanc — directly comparable to Domaine des Forges across the same flagship appellations and target connoisseur segment.
• Château de Fesles: Bonnezeaux and Quarts-de-Chaume producer with comparable Chenin-based sweet wine portfolio and similar family-estate go-to-market.
• Château Pierre-Bise: Multi-generational Loire family estate producing Savennières, Coteaux du Layon, and Anjou reds — comparable heritage model with broad Loire Chenin and red portfolio.
• Champalou: Family-run Vouvray producer across Chenin sec, demi-sec, and méthode traditionnelle sparklings — closely comparable Loire family-estate business model with similar Chenin focus.
• Domaine du Closel: Savennières specialist producing dry Chenin from schist terroirs. Direct peer in the same Savennières appellation, sharing premium Loire dry Chenin positioning.
• Domaine FL: Bonnezeaux Chenin specialist operating at similar scale with comparable terroir-driven sweet wine portfolio and DTC emphasis.
• Coulée de Serrant (Nicolas Joly): Biodynamic Savennières-Roche-aux-Moines single-vineyard estate. Comparable as a heritage Savennières producer with similar terroir-driven dry Chenin focus and small-scale operation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/domainedesforgesvins
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/branchereau-domaine-des-forges
• Instagraminstagram.com/domainedesforges

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DOMAINE DES FORGES