Domaine Sérol, the benchmark in Cote Roannaise

Guide Bettane + Desseauve 2023 : "Perhaps the finest domaine in France when it comes to wines of pure pleasure. Bravo."

Passed down from father to son for 5 generations, the domaine Sérol is now a driving force in the Côte Roannaise. Its red cuvées made from gamay are already served at the tables of the greatest chefs. Every year, Troisgros (3 Michelin stars) selects a cuvée from domaine Sérol to showcase local food and wine pairings.

In 1964, Robert Sérol took over the mixed-farming estate and secured its classification as AOC Côte Roannaise. In 2000, his son, the technically minded Stéphane Sérol, took the reins with great ambitions. His partner Carine helped him modernise and expand the domaine. Today, they offer a broad range of single-parcel selections and other vieilles vignes wines, making Sérol an essential domaine whenever the Gamay grape is mentioned!

Their Gamay Saint Romain produces red AOP Côte Roannaise, while their Viognier and Chenin produce white IGP d'Urfé.

The vineyard covers 38 hectares, with vines aged from 5 to 80 years, planted between 400 and 550 metres above sea level. Altitude is indeed one of the defining features that gives this domaine such quality. Composed mainly of sand over granite, the soil is perfectly suited to the local grape varieties (Gamay Saint Romain, viognier).
The Gamay Saint Romain is a local variant of the gamay grape, found exclusively in Côte Roannaise. It produces round, charming wines that are highly characteristic of the variety.

The vineyard is farmed biodynamically and certified organic. The grapes are harvested by hand into small crates. Vinification is carried out with minimal inputs. Lower yields, harvesting at optimum ripeness, hand-picked grapes: the Sérol family remains deeply attached to winegrowing tradition and gives itself every means to fulfil its quality ambitions:

The modern winery allows for single-parcel vinifications that respect the nature and origin of the berries while preserving grape quality.

The domaine Sérol proudly champions its AOP Côte Roannaise, a small appellation (200 ha) to which the Sérol family has always been deeply committed, even though today, when tasted blind, the family domaine clearly stands alongside other, more prestigious appellations!
 

Our selection of cuvées from the domaine:

• Côte Roannaise "Eclat de granite" red
• Côte Roannaise "Les Blondins" red
• Côte Roannaise "Oudan" red
• Côte Roannaise "Millerands" red
• Côte Roannaise "Perdrizière" red
• Côte Roannaise "Chez Muron" red
• Côte Roannaise "Chez Coste" red
• "Oudan - de Butte en Blanc" (viognier) dry white
• "Champtoisé" (chenin) dry white

Why buy wines from domaine Sérol?

Because we love them, and because we believe these wines truly deserve a place in your cellar! But as some customers have told us, "we are not objective, since we have tasted and chosen them in order to sell them: we have a vested interest". That is why we prefer to “defend” our selection with the comments of leading guides, which are more objective than we are :
 

Guide RVF des Meilleurs Vins de France 2025 (Sept. 2024): 2★/4 (major benchmark domaine) "Carine and Stéphane Serol have never made gamay saint-romain and Côte Roannaise shine so brightly. On high-altitude terroirs of sand and granite (from 380 to 520 metres), the reds draw a delicately smoky, floral and airy expression from the grape variety. From vines planted at high density (8,000 to 10,000 vines/ha), the grapes are partially or even fully destemmed before being gently vinified. The progress made over the past ten years has been remarkable; the wines have never conveyed the identity of their terroirs so faithfully. Note the additional refinement in the whites."

Guide Bettane + Desseauve 2024 : 3★/5 (high-quality production). Stéphane Sérol is guiding his domaine along the path to excellence. The 34 hectares of vineyard highlight the gamay grape, which here expresses itself fully on granite and porphyry soils. Coupled with precise biodynamic viticulture, this domaine stands out for its meticulous, hand-harvested wines. The various crus offer freshness of structure and sheer drinkability, particularly the cuvée les-millerands, which deserves time in the cellar. A reliable source of great wines of pleasure.

Guide Bettane + Desseauve 2023 : 3★/5 (high-quality production). Perhaps the finest domaine in France when it comes to wines of pure pleasure. Bravo.

The domaine Sérol on video

Stéphane Sérol talks to us about his granite terroir, the typicity of Gamay wines and viognier.
(Source: Vin éthique de France)
 

View our selection of fine wines from domaine Sérol: