In the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation stands the eponymous winery of Claude Branger. Claude’s grandfather established the family winery during WWI, and from chaos was born beautiful wine. When Claude began to tend to the vineyards with his father at a young age, the two worked “derrière le cheval” on 7 hectares. Today, though horses no longer figure into the equation, Claude and his son, Sébastien, work the vineyards organically as conscientious vignerons. Organic certifications for the vineyards came in 2016, and Sébastien expanded the winemaking to include two crus — Château-Thébaud and Monnières-St Fiacre. With organic vineyards, low yields, hand harvesting, and extended lees aging, the wines of Claude Branger are a revelation in the potential of Muscadet. Plush yet vigorous, the wines distinctly showcase the sea salt-influence of the nearby Atlantic and minerality of the quartz-rich soils.