Domaine Luneau-Papin: History
The Luneau family hail from a long line of vignerons. They are well-established in the region, there being evidence that they first arrived here, in Le Landreau, in 1680. The Papin family, meanwhile, originated in nearby Chapelle-Heulin, and had similarly deep roots. It was perhaps no surprise that Pierre Luneau, the 13th generation of his family to bear the name Pierre, should take up the secateurs and the life of a vigneron, just like his father, grandfather and indeed many other ancestors before him.
The Luneau and Papin families came together with the marriage of this Pierre Luneau and Monique Papin, thereby uniting their family’s domaines, in 1973. They have for many years been proprietors of the Domaine Pierre de la Grange, a domaine founded by Pierre’s forebears in the 18th century, and they are the eighth generation of vignerons to hold this honour. Muscadet geeks will know, however, that the wines at this time were more likely to be found listed under the name of Pierre Luneau-Papin or even Pierre Luneau, than under the estate’s true name of Domaine Pierre de la Grange (although this name has appeared on the label before now).
Pierre Luneau-Papin (pictured on preceding page) first studied at Briacé, which is just down the road from Le Landreau, followed by some experience under the respected oenologists Émile Peynaud and Pascal Ribéreau-Gayon, both of the Faculty of Oenology at the University of Bordeaux. Once he had completed his studies in Bordeaux, he headed back to Muscadet to take over the running of the family domaine, eventually relieving his parents Pierre (of course he was called Pierre!) and Denise of their responsibilities. When he married Monique Papin her family’s vines, which had come to her from her parents Auguste and Jeannette Papin, came into the fold. With the two vineyards united, Domaine Luneau-Papin was born.
