Antoine Gouffier is a native of Saint Andelain; from an early age he has been surrounded by vines and vignerons. At the age of 21 he decided to study winemaking, and then embarked on extensive travels. He explored the world for 12 years, stopping for work experience in the USA, New Zealand, Middle East, Argentina and notably in South Africa.

He would settle in South Africa for five years and get his first hands [his first try? his first experience?] at winemaking for few different wineries, learning the ropes from the likes of Duncan Savage. This is also where he would meet his wife, who convinced him to go back to his Loire roots and become what he secretly always wanted to be: a vigneron.

As luck would have it, in 2018, he found an advertisement online mentioning his neighbour Domaine du Bouchot was for sale. The owner Pascal Kerbiquet, a local figure who had made a name for himself working organically and with biodynamic farming since 2009, wanted to retire. Antoine soon found in him a new mentor and would work by his side for a full year. The transition happened smoothly. Little by little but with sheer determination Antoine affirmed his style, choosing hand-harvesting in order to pick at the right maturity (a few days earlier than everyone else), fermentation with natural yeasts, and minimal use amount of SO2 (almost none in 2021). He prefers long ageing on the lees in a combination of vessels: 228l, 350 or 500L barriques, concrete eggs, amphorae, foudre and neutral tank, observing and adapting with every single wine and vintage.

In a space of a handful of vintages, Antoine might have raised a few eyebrows in the region. His work and passion was rewarded in 2022. He was quickly spotted by critics and has been voted “Discovery of the Year 2022” by the French wine magazine La Revue du Vin de France, with journalists stating ”The Pouilly Fumé appellation drifted away from wine lovers' hearts due to most too often thin, acidic and varietal wines with too much sulphites" - a harsh judgment, but besides one or two vignerons, it is probably a true statement!