Loire Chenin Blanc MasterClass with France & Western's Charlie Gaeta
Few grapes offer the range, character, and sense of place of Chenin Blanc—and few importers have done as much to champion the France’s most exciting growers as France & Western.
Join beloved Boston sommelier Charlie Gaeta for an in-depth exploration of Loire Chenin, featuring a selection of distinctive wines represented by boutique European importer, France & Western. A longtime Boston hospitality professional and wine educator, Charlie has built his career around discovering distinctive, terroir-driven wines and sharing them with curious drinkers. His wine programs have earned local recognition, and his approach to wine is rooted in digging deeper into regions, finding emerging growers, and balancing classic expressions with new discoveries.
Charlie will lead us through two of the Loire’s most compelling Chenin-focused regions—Anjou and Vouvray—exploring how geology, vintage, farming, and winemaking shape the personality of this remarkably versatile grape.
We’ll begin with Domaine Grebet et Fils’ Pouilly-Fumé “Les Loges” 2025, offering a brief look at Sauvignon Blanc as a point of reference before turning our attention to the star of the evening: Chenin Blanc.
From there, we’ll explore the wines of Domaine des Myosotis, a young and exciting estate in Anjou, tasting La Fuye 2023 and Myosotis 2024 side by side. We’ll then move to Le Clos de la Meslerie in Vouvray, where three wines demonstrate just how dramatically Chenin can express itself: the dry 2023 Vouvray Sec, the gently off-dry 2022 Sec Tendre, and the 2022 Brut Nature.
Along the way, Charlie will explore the remarkable versatility of Chenin Blanc, from the influence of schist, clay, limestone, and tuffeau to the ways vintage and site shape its expression. We’ll look at the delicate balance between acidity, ripeness, and residual sugar, and why Chenin is capable of developing extraordinary complexity with age. This is Chenin Blanc through the lens of France & Western: an evening with Charlie Gaeta exploring the growers, vineyards, and wines that demonstrate why Chenin has become one of the most compelling grapes in the world of fine wine.
Featuring:
Domaine Grebet et Fils, Pouilly-Fumé “Les Loges” 2025
Domaine des Myosotis, Anjou Blanc “La Fuye” 2023
Domaine des Myosotis, Anjou Blanc “Myosotis” 2024
Le Clos de la Meslerie, Vouvray Sec 2023
Le Clos de la Meslerie, Vouvray Sec Tendre 2022
Le Clos de la Meslerie, Vouvray Brut Nature 2022
