The estate

Plan éloigné. Premier-plan les vignes et en arrière-plan le chêteau
Les directeurs en photo avec un chien devant eux. L'arrière-plan est une grosse porte métallique noir et un mur en pierre apparente

Our history

Ampelidae was established in 1995 in the Vienne region, with a half-hectare plot in the commune of Marigny-Brizay. Since then, it has grown to cover 65 hectares and produce certified organic wines.

Ampelidae is a family estate owned by the Meuli family. The estate is managed by Isabella Meuli and oenologist Gilles de Bollardière.

Their responsibility as guardians of the vineyard is to uphold ethics, use organic principles to nurture the land and care for the vinesthey can be proud of.

  • 2000 - First organic certification
  • 2005 - Discovery of Blanc d'Hiver

Our philosophy

Our aim is to reveal the forgotten terroirs of the Vienne region, with a determination to succeed thanks to the regularity and quality of the vintages, with minimal intervention.

Respect for the terroir

In the vineyard, observation is our strength, the better to understand our vines and accompany them through to harvesting, so as to harvest at the right maturity, with the greatest care to preserve the quality of the grapes produced.

Responsible, humane viticulture

On the estate, preventive methods are favored, such as disbudding to better aerate the vines and limit disease, and soil aeration. This responsible vision extends to social and human values of fair remuneration and benevolence, as well as a focus on local circuits to limit environmental impact.

Our team

Kate et Benji Meuli assis sur un banc en bois adossé sur un mur en pierre. Les deux tiennent un verre à la main.

Kate & Benji MEULI

Kate & Benji Meuli discovered the region in 1990 and in love with Château des Roches, as a family home.

A decade later, in 2003, they decided to restore the full estate it to its former glory and Ajoined the vineyard with Ampelidae. This includes the château, the winery and the 200 hectares of farmland and vineyards.

In 2020, the Meuli family officially took over the reins of the Ampelidae adventure. Kate becomes President in January 2020, alongside her husband Benji, Chairman of the Board.

Gilles dans les vignes avec un verre à la main en train de faire un discours lors d'une visite.

Gilles de Bollardière

After studying agricultural engineering & oenology and gaining valuable experience with the great names in French wine (particularly in Champagne, Burgundy, Rhône, and finally the Loire Valley), it was finally in December 2016 that Gilles joined the Ampelidae team, first as vineyard manager, then as technical director.

Since 2020, he has also been a board member of Interbio Nouvelle-Aquitaine, probably the largest French regional association of organic farming professionals and organizations.

Izzy dans les vignes entourée de ses parents avec un verre à la main.

Isabella Meuli

The family story continues!

After nine years working in the insurance industry in London and Tokyo, Izzy finally joined her parents on the estate in 2020. Izzy is looking to bring a fresh perspective to Ampelidae, with a particular focus on developing wine tourism in the years ahead.

However, having grown up as a “cuverie helper” whenever the opportunity arose, don’t be surprised to come across her at the bottom of a tank or rolling barrels!