CHÂTEAU DE TRACY: EXPRESSIVE WINES FOR LAYING DOWN IN AOC POUILLY-FUMÉ

From Photography to Wine: The Journey of Juliette d’Assay

Juliette d’Assay is one of those individuals who follows her passions. In her youth, photography was her primary interest. After several years at Marie-Claire Idées magazine, Juliette discovered a new passion: wine. This passion, however, is far from new, as it is deeply rooted in her family history. "My mother was a winemaker. She acquired a vineyard in the Loire Valley, in the Pouilly-Fumé appellation: Château de Tracy. That was in the 1950s," explains Juliette. It was this very property that Juliette joined in 2005. For her, hands-on experience is invaluable. "I learned everything on the job," emphasizes Juliette, who did not pursue any formal academic training to gain her current knowledge.

Château de Tracy: A Family Estate Committed to Biodiversity

Spanning 33 hectares, the Château de Tracy vineyard is located on south-west facing hills near the Loire River. Committed to biodiversity and environmental preservation, Château de Tracy holds the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) label. "We use neither pesticides nor herbicides," Juliette specifies. The wines are crafted with the same philosophy: minimal dosage and nearly no sulfites. The character of the Domaine's wines faithfully reflects the Pouilly-Fumé AOC: dry, fruity white wines exclusively made from Sauvignon Blanc. With a good balance between alcohol and acidity, Château de Tracy wines are complex and expressive, suitable for aging, and are produced with a biodynamic approach. "We study the natural behavior of the vine as well as the surrounding biodiversity: mites, plants..."

Vineyard Walks and Tastings

Although nature has wreaked havoc in the Loire Valley this year, Juliette remains optimistic about the 2016 vintage. "It started off poorly, but we are likely to end up with a quality wine, well-balanced with good pH." A true nature enthusiast, Juliette offers vineyard tours to visitors and is currently working on setting up educational and enjoyable outdoor workshops on the estate.