The sharp sound of the bottles, the labels passing by, a smell of flour still present in the air: in Cahon, in the Somme, a family mill is nevertheless preparing… a Chardonnay wine. In this village on the Picardy coast, a line of millers decided to try an adventure that no one really expected.
In May 2026, the Riquier family presents its very first white vintage, from vines planted a stone’s throw from the mill, in the heart of the Bay of Somme. A bet that intrigues professionals and the curious alike, with a simple promise: to see how far this Chardonnay born in a wheat country can go.
In Cahon, a Chardonnay that grows in the shadow of the mill
The Riquier family has been known for its flour for eleven generations in Cahon. In spring 2022, she planted 5,000 vines on a one-hectare plot, located a few hundred meters from the mill. Antoine Riquier and Marie-Laure Riquier, millers by trade, first had a soil study carried out and surrounded themselves with viticulture professionals as well as an oenologist before getting started.
For this new winegrowers’ cap, almost everything had to be learned. , says Marie-Laure Riquier. The scene is set: here, the wine is added to the grain, without making the mill disappear.
From millers to winegrowers: learning with jellies and bottles
Before arriving at the 2026 vintage, the path was not linear. The frosts of 2024 caused the first vintage to fail, reminding us of the fragility of the vines in this Picardy climate. Antoine Riquier had to master his new profession row by row: A very direct way of taking on this agricultural shift.
At the mill, the clicking of the machines now accompanies the labeling machine which is running at full speed. We must dress 2,000 bottles intended for professionals before Wednesday May 20, 2026, out of a total of 7,000 bottles for the 2026 vintage. , enthuses Antoine Riquier to France 3. The control of the grain gives way to that of the glass.
Les Baies du Moulin, a Baie de Somme vintage to taste
Named, this Chardonnay vintage will first be reserved for professionals on May 20, before a tasting for the general public from May 21 directly at the estate. The wine should then arrive at the end of June on the menus of local restaurants and in certain stores, anchoring this new product in the gastronomy of the Bay of Somme. If successful, the couple is already planning to double production in the coming years.
This project is part of a broader movement of Somme vineyards, with other Chardonnay plantations in the valley. But in Cahon, the common thread remains family continuity: flour, mill and now wine, gathered on a few hectares. Enough to make you want to see, on site, how this challenge is written between wheat silos and rows of vines.
Where is Cahon Chardonnay wine produced in Baie de Somme?
This Chardonnay is produced in Cahon, a village in the Somme located near the Picardy coast, in the heart of the Bay of Somme.
When can you taste and buy the Les Baies du Moulin vintage?
The professionals taste on May 20, 2026, the public on May 21, then the wine arrives at the end of June in local stores and restaurants.
How much Chardonnay is produced for the 2026 vintage?
The 2026 vintage represents 7,000 bottles of Chardonnay, including 2,000 intended primarily for professionals.
