Aside from his passion, there was nothing to predispose Richard Leroy to become a winegrower (no wine producers in his family and a student of Economics) but in the middle of the 1990s he took on 2.7 hectares of vines in Rablay-sur-Layon. He used to produce sweet white wines under the Rablay-sur-Layon appellation and dry wines under the Anjou appellation but following serious disagreements with the INAO his cuvées have been reclassified under the Vin de France label. Yields are very low and only the best grapes are selected. The viticulture is, of course, organic and harvesting is done by hand. Sulphur levels have been reduced dramatically year after year. These wines are perhaps one of the finest expressions of the Chenin grape. They have also become an open secret, sought-after by connoisseurs all over the world. Unfortunately, production levels are negligible.

The reputation of Richard Leroy wines precedes them. Le Clos des Rouliers has been declassified as a Vin de France following deep disagreements with the INAO. Leroy’s wines have lost none of their quality. A 100% Chenin, perfectly balanced between sweetness and freshness.