Sancerre is one of France's most beloved appellations. Located in France's eastern Loire Valley, the vines of Sancerre boast mostly Sauvignon Blanc, but it also has a small set of Pinot Noir plantings, too. This region is special because it is a parcel on the vein of chalk that runs from the White Cliffs of Dover, under the English Channel, through the Loire Valley, onto Champagne and Chablis. This limestone imparts a minerality and acidity into the wine that is quite memorable and highly sought after. So if you want a break from your New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, give Sancerre a swirl!

Now that we've got you interested in Sancerre, what's to know? Well, for one thing, in Sancerre one name stands out: Reverdy.

The name Reverdy is synonymous with Sancerre. If you were to look up Reverdy in the fictional 'wine phone book' of the Sancerre AOC, you'd find no less than 10 producers of fine flinty, mineral and elegant Sauvignon Blanc with this name. The Reverdy Domaine, to my best internet sleuthing, began in the 1600s in the town of Verdigny. Because there is little to no information as to the familial history, one can ascertain that as the Reverdy family grew and branched out through the generations, each had claimed a portion of the land in this special part of France. And, like the Kennedys, there are some close relations, distant relations and off-set branches of the family that all co-exist in Verdigny, Sancerre. Regardless of the branch of Reverdy you encounter, it is all delicious Sancerre! 

Domaine Jean Reverdy
This Reverdy Domaine was founded in the 1650s and has been in the family for 10 generations. Like many farms in the 17th century, this was a fully operational farm that grew crops for sustenance including grape vines, however, with the evolution of trade, technology and availability of goods, the family started focusing solely on grapes in the 1950's. Today, the Reverdy estate produces around 100,000 bottles of wine per year and exports the majority of its stock to the major markets around the world.

Domaine Jean Reverdy encompasses 30 acres of vineyards. With the lion's share devoted to the AOC's signature grape, Sauvignon Blanc, there are a few parcels planted with Pinot Noir for their Rouge and their Sancerre Rosé.

One way to determine which Reverdy you are getting is by the Importer. In the United States, Domaine Jean Reverdy is imported by Kysela Pere et Fils. Fran Kysela is a Master Sommelier who previously worked as the National Import Manager for Kermit Lynch Imports before he started his own importing firm in 1994. As one of the first wineries in the Kysela importing portfolio, Domaine Jean Reverdy has enjoyed a tenured presence in restaurants and fine wine retailers all over the United States. This wine is so well regarded, we are limited as to the amount we can order in a given year.