Alex Foillard

Where?

It is in the heart of Beaujolais, in the small village of Villié-Morgon, that Alex Foillard chose to bring his own wine project to life. Son of Jean Foillard, an emblematic winemaker of the natural wine movement, Alex continues this legacy while asserting a resolutely personal approach. He now cultivates a few hectares in the prestigious appellations of Brouilly, Côte de Brouilly, and Beaujolais-Villages, in the south of the region.

Terroir, plots and grape varieties

Alex Foillard's vines are predominantly planted with Gamay, the emblematic grape variety of Beaujolais. He works several plots located on high-altitude terroirs, on hillsides, benefiting from varied exposures. The soils are rich and expressive: granitic in Brouilly, with veins of schist and sand, and composed of blue diorite on the Côte de Brouilly, a rare volcanic rock that gives the wines structure and depth.

Cultivation methods

Alex adopts artisanal and respectful viticulture. Inspired by organic practices and the natural approach passed down by his father, he favors manual work: light plowing, no herbicides, hand harvesting. He strives to preserve soil balance and biodiversity, favoring reasoned yields for better concentration of the berries. Viticulture is carried out without certification but with a strong ethic: that of allowing life to fully express itself.

Winemaking

In the cellar, Alex Foillard remains true to the spirit of natural wines: his winemaking is minimally interventionist. He favors whole-cluster fermentations with carbonic maceration, typical of Beaujolais. Indigenous yeasts ensure alcoholic fermentation, without the addition of oenological inputs. Aging takes place in tanks or barrels, without fining or filtration. The use of sulfur is reduced to a strict minimum, or even absent depending on the vintage.

The wines

Alex Foillard's cuvées reveal all the energy of their original terroir. They offer the characteristic juiciness and freshness of Gamay, but also remarkable depth and finesse. His Brouilly is bursting with fruit, supple and vibrant; the Côte de Brouilly is distinguished by a more mineral and structured framework; his Beaujolais-Villages seduces with its aromatic purity and gourmet drinkability. Living, digestible wines, both accessible and profound, which demonstrate the excellence of a new generation of winemakers.

Each bottle of Alex Foillard is an invitation to rediscover Beaujolais, in its most sincere and vibrant form.