Baby-faced Loire winemaker makes UK debut

23-year-old winemaker Valentin Ledys presented a trio of wines at the Sopexa First Date for France tasting at the Royal Opera House last week, in the hope of securing on- and off-trade distribution in the UK.  

The baby-faced vigneron has 6 hectares of vines in Saint Aignan, in the Loire Valley’s Touraine region.

Working on the “less is more” principal, he uses a rigorous system of sustainable viticulture, restricted yields and non-interventionist winemaking, with long lees aging and low levels of sulphur dioxide.
 
His range includes a Malbec rosé, a Sauvignon Blanc and a Gamay. A Malbec and Gamay will be added to the range in June.

Ledys’ father was a winemaker, but died when he was 12, forcing his mother to sell the estate.

Two years ago, he raised the money to buy six hectares from a bank loan, and started up Domaine Valentin Ledys independently.

“As a young winemaker cultivating six hectares, I combine the benefits of my native soils with technology in order to produce balanced and fruity wines midway between fresh and full bodied”, Ledys told the drinks business.

In-keeping with his entrepreneurial spirit, aside from selling his wines in bottle, Ledys is also marketing them in test tubes.

“Each test tube holds two glasses of wine, so they are perfect for picnics. My Valentin Ledys Malbec rosé sold very well in France in the run up to Valentines Day.”

The First Date for France tasting featured 45 French wineries seeking UK representation.

Lucy Shaw, 21.02.2011