La Ferme de la Sansonnière: Vineyards
Today Mark Angeli tends about 12 hectares of land, of which approximately 7 hectares are given over to the vine. These 7 hectares are divided between multiple small parcels, most of which are situated very close to his domaine. Even the furthest placed is less than a kilometre away. he has predominantly Chenin Blanc planted, with a smaller area dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon and Grolleau, all planted at a density of about 6,000 vines per hectare, and all are currently grafted onto American rootstocks. Most of the Chenin Blanc is blended into a single cuvée, although there are at least two single-vineyard expressions. I provide more detail on the wines and the vineyards from which they originate on the next page.
The few hectares not planted to vines are committed to other agricultural activities to encourage biodiversity and sustainability. Here Mark, Martial and Bruno grow a selection of other crops, with freshly planted apple trees, olive trees, sunflowers, wheat and other cereals. Some of these latter cereals are used to feed Angeli’s animals which not only provide the family with eggs, meat, milk and fabrics, but also generate a steady supply of organic, gently enriching fertiliser for the vineyards. There are also bee hives; this is very much a return to the polyculture of old, and self sufficiency, rather than the more modern-day monoculture of the vine.
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