Domaine du Bel Air begins its story back in 1880, when an ancestor of the Gauthier family abandoned his profession as a potter to focus on agriculture, he acquired several parcels of land at the base of the Benais village. There, he cultivated a diverse range of crops, including carrots, beetroot, hemp, and liquorice. He quickly succeeded to acquire several plots suitable for planting vines. Hence, he planted vines that he used to graft by himself to produce his own Bourgueil wines.
In 2000 Domaine du Bel Air has converted to organic viticulture. There were several attempts done by Pierre Gauthier in order to launch the production of vintages that would mirror their unique terroirs. The Gauthier family varies the duration of vinification and style, offering wines suitable for aging as well as fruity options. In consequence, the first vintage was produced in 1995 by Pierre Gauthier.
The terroir in rather tuffo with the most chalky and clayey area of Bourgueil. The terroir conditions enable to produce wines full of admirable volume and depth, which usually take a long time to mature.
Presently, aided by his son Rodolphe, Pierre Gauthier is dedicated to meticulous viticulture, placing special emphasis on soil cultivation. With immense wisdom and devotion, the estate has implemented propriate measures to guarantee that its three exceptional red wines are only released to the market after a minimum of five years of aging. The quality of these wines and the emotion they evoke deserve to be saluted with a second star.
