Producer Francois Blanchard

FRANCE, LOIRE

François Blanchard is an extraordinary character in every sense of the term. He lives with his family in the Chateau du Perron just outside the village of Lemere, about 40 minutes south of Tours. Its vineyard is called Le Grand Clere, and is a great example of biodiversity where fruit trees, vines and wild animals can be found. The vines, which have an average age of 40 years, are found on soils rich in clay and are planted with Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Francois grew up in the Loire and worked for years in Tours as a professional jazz musician. He is exceptionally talented as a musician and music remains an enormously important part of the family. However, over a decade ago he made the decision to return to the family farm and focus on creating a self-sustaining farming system. Today he grows most of the vegetables and grains he needs and with the grains he has started brewing a lambic beer.