Nicolas Arnou

🍷 Nicolas Arnou: Loire Natural Wine Rooted in Humility, Terroir, and Renewal

Based in Champ-sur-Layon in the Layon Valley south of Angers, Nicolas Arnou is a natural winemaker committed to artisanal viticulture. Born into a family of dairy farmers, he returned to the land after a passionate career change, training with iconic winemakers including Manu Houillon and Pierre Overnoy in the Jura. In 2018, he acquired Clos de La Raimbaudière, a 19th-century estate with 10 hectares of vines (some needing replanting) and a historic gravity-fed cellar. His winemaking is gentle and additive-free, with no added sulfites, and aging follows the natural rhythm of the wine. Loire varieties like Chenin, Grolleau, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay are expressed with honesty and vibrancy.

🌿 Philosophy

• Organic farming, agroforestry, sheep grazing after harvest.

• Natural winemaking, no sulfites or filtration.

• Living, sincere wines rooted in Layon terroir.

🍇 Grapes and Style

• Chenin, Grolleau, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay.

• Natural reds, whites, rosés, and pét-nats.

• Signature cuvées: Premier Né, La Raimbaudière, Grolleau Noir, Chenin Libre.