Belargus is one man’s dream turned into reality. Ivan Massonnat's connection to wine is a story of returning to his roots. Though he built a successful career in finance, his earliest memories were shaped by the vineyards of Savoie, where his grandfather was a winemaker. This foundational experience gave him a deep, intuitive understanding of viticulture and a desire to one day create a legacy of his own. 

When the time came to establish his own domaine, his search for the right terroir led him to Anjou. He was not just looking for any vineyard; he was looking for a region with untapped potential. In the schist slopes of the Coteaux du Layon, particularly within the Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru, Loire’s only Grand Cru,  of which Belargus owns  a quarter, he found what he was seeking: a geology as complex as any in Burgundy and a grand cru heritage for Chenin Blanc that he believed was ripe for a modern interpretation. Anjou presented a clear opportunity to create precise, terroir-driven wines that could speak of a specific place. He further expanded the Domaine’s holdings in another iconic appellation: Savennières, right next to the legendary Coulée de Serrant. 

Massonnat's approach is practical. The Domaine is farmed organically and biodynamically, with the goal of achieving balanced, healthy fruit. The idea is simple: healthy grapes require minimal intervention in the cellar.

In the winery, the process is straightforward. Fermentation uses native yeasts, and aging is in neutral vessels. The aim is not to add flavor, but to allow the wine to develop slowly and express the distinct character of each vineyard site.

The result is a range of wines that clearly articulate their origins and took the wine world by storm when they were first released, immediately placing them at the very top of the finest wines of the region. We are proud to represent Belargus wines in Hong Kong.