The Casting of Tightening was planted at the 12th century (113O) by Cisterciens Monks and always remained in vine since. The year 2OO8 is thus the 878th consecutive vintage. The old small monastery which always forms part of the property is classified with the inventory of the historic buildings.

A few hundred meters further and adjacent to the vines one can see the ruins of the old fortress of the Roche aux Moines which kept the Loire and where the son of Philippe Auguste was victorious against Lackland son of Richard the Lionheart, in 1214. This battle is contemporary of that of Bouvines.
Associated with the fortress, a strengthened alley of 3OO meters, said the "Cemetery of the English", also classified, makes it possible to the visitors to see in a glance the vineyard and the Loire downwards which it dominates. One finds still a little everywhere on these places charged of history, the vestiges of a deep past, including the Celtique time, Romaine and Carolingian.

It is with it only an "appellation controlee" of 7 hectares only. Located on very stiff slopes, dominating the Loire, the vines resulting from the type of vine "chenin" have more than 35 to 4O years of average age; oldest having more 8O years give wood to make new vines carrying the originality of the place. Partly cultivated with the horse, or the hand, the average output is with 2O/25 hectolitres per hectare (4O authorized). The ground far from thick, (2O with 4O cm on average) is on a red schist bottom obliques which drains the vines perfectly.

The orientation of the slopes is especially Southern/Southern East (thank you to consult the data sheet for more details). The grape harvest is done in 5 times out of 3 to 4 weeks to obtain the most coloured possible maturity and the most marked by the botrytis.

Wine making : out of barrel of 5OO liters (never more than new wood 5%).

Production: approximately 2O/25OOO bottles per annum.