Eric Dubois is the force behind Château La Franchaie, which he founded in 2018. Prior to that, he spent 21 years managing Clos Cristal, another esteemed winery in the Loire Valley. When Eric and his partner Alex decided to launch their own project, they explored wine regions from Italy to Portugal before ultimately realizing their hearts—and vision—belonged in the Loire.

They acquired 5.5 hectares of land, where they now practice organic and biodynamic farming. The vineyards are remote, surrounded by nature rather than neighboring estates, and offer plenty of space for their three horses.

Winemaking at Château La Franchaie is natural and minimalist, with little intervention. Eric produces only a small amount of wine each year, but the bottles are in high demand—and once you've tasted them, they're hard to forget.

The Volatiles is a field blend of grapes native to the region. While the wine is easy to drink, it’s anything but simple. It carries a layered complexity that makes it as fitting for a casual weeknight dinner as it is for curling up with a good book and letting each sip draw you in.