Wine Tasting in Vendée: A Michelin-Starred Chef at the Heart of His Terroir

Vendée’s Terroir Celebrated in Chef JM Perochon’s Cuisine

In Brétignolles-sur-Mer, on the Vendée coast facing the ocean, the Michelin-starred restaurant JM Perochon invites you to discover an honest cuisine, deeply inspired by the local Vendéen terroir. The chef works daily with local producers, fishermen… and also winemakers from Vendée.

Deeply attached to his region, he enjoys highlighting Vendée wines, pairing them with his ocean-inspired dishes. For him, every wine tells a story of land, climate, and craftsmanship.

Fiefs Vendéens: An Appellation Full of Character

Vendée is home to a small yet beautiful vineyard nestled between sea and marshland. The Fiefs Vendéens, a Protected Designation of Origin (AOC) since 2011, include five areas: Brem, Mareuil, Vix, Pissotte, and Chantonnay.

These regions produce red, white, and rosé wines, often light, fruity, and easy to drink. Well-known grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Cabernet Franc are commonly found here. On our wine list, you'll find the following featured wines:

• A white wine from Brem, from Domaine des Granges – crisp and fresh, it pairs beautifully with our starters featuring shellfish and cockles.
• A red wine from Mareuil, from Domaine des Jumeaux – round and full-bodied, it complements our current meat dish: farm-raised lamb.
• A rosé wine from Vix or Chantonnay, from Domaine de la Barbinière – light and fruity, ideal for summer.

Local Wines to Discover, Served with Passion

At the chef’s table, discovering a wine from Mareuil or Brem is more than a tasting – it’s a journey into a region, a winemaker’s vision, and a story. These quality wines, often produced in small quantities, come from unique soils influenced by the ocean or the Loire Valley.

Chef Jean Marc Perochon and his sommelier Jérémy work closely with several local winemakers:

• Domaine Saint Nicolas, run by Thierry Michon in Les Sables-d’Olonne, known for its organic wines.
• Domaine Eric Sage in Brem-sur-Mer, where the soil and vines are tended with a draft horse.
• And Domaine Arica on the Île de Ré, primarily situated on the north coast’s limestone terraces, exposed to sea winds and ocean spray.

Together, they take the time to meet the winemakers, taste their cuvées, and select the best wines for their menus.

The Chef: An Ambassador of Vendée’s Vineyards

At Hôtellerie Les Brisants, you can taste these wines at the restaurant, guided by Jérémy’s expert food and wine pairings. Tailored to your preferences, these pairings introduce you to quality local cuvées—sometimes under the radar but always full of character. Through his tasting menus, the chef showcases wines that are sometimes labeled IGP Val de Loire.

A Wine-Lover’s Experience in Brétignolles-sur-Mer

Every year, Chef Jean Marc Perochon refreshes his wine selection, traveling through the vineyards of Vendée, meeting with local winemakers, and exploring new, sometimes exclusive, cuvées—always marked by authenticity. For the Chef, it’s essential to highlight these artisans of flavor, who work in harmony with the land and climate.

Starting this November, we’re launching our much-loved winemaker evenings. Once a month, from November to April, we will feature a local or guest estate, for an evening focused on connection and sharing.
The program for these unique evenings includes:

• A food and wine pairing dinner, carefully curated by our chef to complement the guest winemaker’s cuvées.
• An overnight stay in our hotel, for a serene and immersive experience by the ocean.
• And a refined breakfast, with homemade, seasonal products and an unbeatable view of the sea.

You may get the chance to taste wines from the estates mentioned in this article—Brem, Vix, Pissotte, or Mareuil—the perfect opportunity to discover or rediscover Vendée wines, in a warm and elegant atmosphere.

Experiencing Wine in Vendée Means Celebrating the Land, the Passion of Its People, and the French Art of Living

Want to go further? We can recommend vineyard tours, where you can meet the winemakers and discover their cellars—a beautiful way to explore the Vendée wine region, between land, sea, and passion.

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