The estate’s origins trace back to 1948, when Gustave Vinet, acquired four hectares in the village of La Haye-Fouassière, naming the property Domaine de la Quilla after a local medicinal tree. In 1980, his son Gérard formally took over the domaine, expanding its holdings and deepening its commitment to terroir expression.

Today, Gérard, his wife Laurence, alongside their son Mathieu, farm 55 hectares across three distinct cru in the heart of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, all certified sustainable under HVE and Terra Vitis. Their holdings include vineyards in La Haye-Fouassière and Château-Thébaud, as well as the historic Clos de la Houssaie — one of the most revered sites in the appellation.

La Haye-Fouassière is not simply home to the estate; it is the genesis of the Muscadet appellation itself. In 1926, eight growers from the village advocated for formal recognition of their terroir, citing Clos de la Houssaie as a benchmark example. While official Grand Cru recognition would come much later, the village remains a cornerstone of quality Muscadet. The vineyards are planted to Melon de Bourgogne, introduced to the region in 1709 following a devastating frost, chosen for its resilience and adaptability. The soils are siliceous and sedimentary, composed of schist, gneiss, amphibolite, and orthogneiss over thin topsoil. These rocky, low-fertility soils force vines to root deeply, naturally limiting vigor and enhancing mineral expression. Gentle slopes along the Sèvre River provide ideal drainage and nuanced microclimates.

Vinification is conducted parcel by parcel to preserve the identity of each site. Extended lees aging is a defining signature of the estate. While traditional “sur lie” wines in the region are bottled in April following harvest, the Vinets delay bottling until late July or later, allowing additional texture and complexity to develop. The jewel of the estate, Clos de la Houssaie, comes from a mere 0.7-hectare enclosed vineyard and is aged for two full years on the lees, followed by a minimum of five years in bottle before release — demonstrating the remarkable aging potential of Melon de Bourgogne.

The wines balance Atlantic freshness with granite-driven tension: citrus peel, orchard fruit, crushed stone, saline lift, and fine lees texture. At their best, they rival far more expensive coastal whites in both gastronomic versatility and longevity.

Domaines Vinet today represents the quiet power of serious Muscadet — historically rooted, sustainably farmed, and capable of decades of evolution.