Crémant de Loire Prélud Le Crémant Domaine Payen

About the Producer Payen

Established in 2024, in the Loire Valley’s Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, Ludovic Payen is emblematic of a new generation of winemakers, both ambitious and consciously engaged. Originally from La Baule, he first completed studies in business at La Viti de Beaune, before gaining extensive, and impressive experience at major estates such as Comte Liger-Belair, Larrivet Haut-Brion, and La Coulée de Serrant.
With his family’s support, he took over a 27-hectare estate that had already established organic farming principles, primarily planted with Chenin but also some Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, Grolleau, Grolleau Gris, thus laying the foundations for a dynamic and exciting project.
With diverse terroirs of green schist, quartz, and schistose sandstone, harvests are carried out by hand. In the cellar, the vinification process uses low intervention methods, such as indigenous yeasts and light pressing. The ageing process varies according to the cuvée; for example, the Prélud, which is an exceptionally drinkable wine, is aged in stainless steel vats, whereas the La Vague Enchantée and La Plage Abandonnée cuvées are aged in barrels.