Albert De Conti Petillant Naturel 2021

On some of the most beautiful land in southwest France, Château Tour des Gendres is situated in the village of Ribagnac in the Bergerac appellation. This centuries-old stronghold of classic French food and wine culture is located on the banks of the Dordogne River, a 90-minute drive east of Bordeaux.

The story of Château Tour des Gendres began in the 1920s when Vincenzo de Conti left Italy to start a new life in Southwestern France. In 1980, their grandson, Luc de Conti, an accomplished horse trainer, decided to embark on a new adventure of viticulture and winemaking. The vines on the estate had been neglected for many years when Luc took charge, restructuring the vineyards and planting new vines. In 1990 his cousin Francis joined the estate, and, in 1994, they became the first in the region to move away from pesticides and chemicals, turning to 100% organic farming and eventually biodynamic farming. Luc has continually experimented throughout his career, implementing high-density planting, growing new varieties, and incorporating new oak, micro-oxygenation, and Stockinger foudres into the winemaking process. A continued focus is the attention to detail given to the quality and maturity of the grapes in the vineyards. The soil here is comprised mainly of limestone, which runs very close to the surface, helping to create balanced wines that retain plenty of elegance.

A new generation continues this legacy, embodied by Luc’s children, Margaux and Gilles. The estate now stretches to 30 hectares, the majority of which are in Ribagnac, and five hectares in Le Grand Caillou in the village of Sadillac.

The estate is considered one of the best in the Bergerac appellation, and Luc is an inspiration to other vignerons. Their wines are on virtually every fine wine list in France, reflecting the experience and passion of the de Conti family and the charm of their terroir.