Clos Rougeard’s Charly Foucault dies

Jean-Louis ‘Charly’ Foucault, co-owner of one of the Loire’s most renowned wineries, Clos Rougeard, has died aged 66.

The Foucault brothers, Nady (l) and Charly (r) in 1996

Foucault died late last month in Angers after a long-term illness his family confirmed on 29 December.

He and his younger brother Bernard (known as ‘Nady’) took over their family winery in 1969 and were pioneers of organic and later biodynamic viticulture in the Saumur region.

“He was passionate about what he did,” Nady said of his brother, adding they had “done everything together.”

Although they were lauded for their natural, pesticide-free approach to viticulture, the pair always said these were practices they were merely continuing from their father and grandfather’s time.

They were the eighth generation of the family to run the winery, which dates back to the seventeenth century.

The estate is widely famed for its single vineyard Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc.

Foucault is survived by his wife, Françoise, and son, Antoine, who owns Domaine du Collier.