La Léontine
Although wine is often linked to the story of mankind, ours is rather the story of a woman – and what a woman! “La Léontine” (our great-grandmother), born in 1889 was a true winemaker right down to her fingertips!
Having faced wars, widowhood and the hard farm work with strength and courage, nothing and no-one could keep her neither from caring for her two hectares of vines nor from making her famous cow and goat's milk cheeses.
She passed on her love of a job well done to her sons Louis and Émile (our grandfather) and from early on to her grandson, Serge (our father). As a child he used to follow her about like a shadow and even today he still devotedly recalls her every move: "Grandmother Léontine used to do it "like this" and no matter where she went, her work was done "just right". Now it is up to us to perpetuate this legacy of respect for the soil, the vines, the wine and the work that needs to be done.
Émile
Émile (our grandfather) was a model of gentleness, generosity and serenity. He succeeded in adapting to the challenges of mechanization and little by little transformed his farm from mixed cultivation to a monoculture of vines (5 hectares by 1950).
So he spent more and more time in the vineyards and in the cellar while his wife, Maria, took on the commercialisation of bottled wine.
After the war, Pouilly-Fumé was largely consumed in the restaurants and bistrots in and around Nevers and Paris and one could sense the beginnings of a blossoming export product. Émile and Maria were extremely proud of the first sales of their bottled Pouilly-Fumé in England (who has remained a faithful client)!
Sadly, Émile left us too soon in 1971 to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing his son, Serge (our father), develop and modernize the Estate in a spectacular way, still in the pursuit of refined quality.
Serge
Serge was very young when he took over the Estate in 1971. A perfectionist, he was interested in the evolution of mechanization and even worked on the invention of new viticultural equipment (the first trimming machine, a vine shoot crusher...)
He is a true pioneer.
Passionate about viticultural progress, he invested in cutting edge equipment. He was among the first to build a new cellar in 1987 with temperature controlled tanks that make it possible to control fermentation temperature and therefore preserving the wine's aroma.
Serge is a self-taught master of many trades
He would take on a job as a mason, an electrician, a carpenter, an ironworker or a welder… he loves all tools and all materials. If you are looking for Serge, you would find him in his vineyards or his cellar, but most often in his workshop. He can tell you everything about any piece of equipment, whether it be pruning shears, a press or a tractor.
Les Dag’
Passing on his experience and his know-how, even amid the rumbustious shouting of a growing family. Serge succeeded in this subtle alchemy with his children: passing on a legacy from father to daughters. These days the "girls" prune in the cold or trim in the heat. Almost unheard of: two women in the vineyards – not so common in this traditional man's world. But, as things go with the Dagueneau family, hard work and skill are combined with success and quality.
Rest assured, Serge, with the Girls the work will be done “just right”!
Florence
&
Valérie
The Girls! When one thinks of Florence and Valérie one cannot but think of their generosity. A generosity one senses in their wines, in their quest for quality and excellence. They innovate, creating new wines while at the same time working their vineyards with diligence and the love of a job well done. As you now know, wine is often a woman's affair when it comes to the Dagueneau family – and what women! Well done Girls! Florence left us in February 2010 after a valiant fight against cancer. We miss her smile and her gentleness. How she spoilt us with her wines! For a long time to come we will still look for her in the vineyards, camera in hand, and "Flo's spirit" will always be present in our wines.
