Historia
Established in 1945 by Marcel Gitton with barely one acre, the Gitton Père & Fils Estates to-day cover close on 60 acres (27 ha) situated amongst the best areas of the region .
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Sancerre
The vineyards are located on various distinctive soils of the villages of Sancerre and Ménétréol . These include flint, and different types of chalk.
At present the property is managed by the son Pascal and his wife Denise. The Gitton Family has become notorious over the years for its respect of traditions, the main philosophy of the house ...
Since each vineyard has its own specificity, every effort is made to vinify the individual grape harvests separately so as to preserve the subtle qualities resulting from the various soils . Each vineyard is vinified without the use of artificial yeast or enzymes, and "single" bottled in most cases .
All our wines are estate bottled, nor do we deal in any wines other than those from the Estate . Certain white wines are commercialised after several years of maturing in bottles.
The Pinot Noir is vinified as red or rosé (blush) and covers 9 acres (4ha). The rest of the property, 50 acres (23ha) is planted in Sauvignon Blanc, and the average age of the vines is around 30 years.
The Gitton Family's ambition is to produce distinctive wines, each having its own character, respecting the fruit of the vines, the particularities of the soils, and thus to provide wine-lovers with a range of wines calculated to satisfy the most discriminating palates.
Pouilly
The twin sister of Sancerre, Pouilly is located 6 miles from Sancerre just on the opposite bank of the river Loire. The 16 acres (7,5 Ha) of vineyards of the Gitton Family stretch out on the communes of St Andelain, chalky soils, and Pouilly/Loire, chalky and marly soils. Kimmeridge marl, gives to the Sauvignon ( locally called "Blanc Fumé" ) an extra finesse and the scent of violets typical of the Pouilly Fumé. The acre and a half of Pouilly sur Loire is planted with the varietals Chasselas and Sauvignon. All our wines are vinified in stainless steel vats to keep their fruitiness, and freshness.
Côteaux du Giennois
Also previously known as Côtes de Gien, the Taureau vineyard is located between the hamlets of Bohème and Fontaine Morin, in Cosne sur Loire. Just two hours South of Paris and only a few miles away from Sancerre or Pouilly , the vineyards, overlooking the Nohain valley were already mentioned as early as 1450. The Gitton Family cultivates four and a half acres of Sauvignon and one of Pinot Noir . The Sauvignon is grown on red flint and chalk and the wine resembles its neighbouring appellations : Pouilly and Sancerre. The vines being just ten years of age, certainly, when they reach their full strength the similarity will become even closer ...
Côtes de Duras
Purchased in 1989, by the Gitton Family, Chateau Lafon was already exporting its wines to Netherlands in 1762 ! Situated an hour east of Bordeaux the vineyards of Chateau Lafon spread over almost 28 acres (13 Ha) at the highest point of the region on a property of 66 acres (30ha). The amphitheatre shaped slope, where the vineyards are situated, almost unique in the Appellation Duras, enjoys sunlight throughout the day, allowing the vines to gain full benefit of long hours of sun.
One third of the total vineyards has been planted in 1950 and 1952, the rest in the early eighties. The 16 acres (7,5 Ha) of white varietals (Sauvignon, Semillon, Muscadelle) are hand picked, as well as 12 acres (5,5 Ha) of reds (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec). They are vinified as separate varieties, blended or not according to the vintage conditions