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The genesis of wine is often traced back to the seventh millennium BCE, in the Caucasus, where wine was aged in qvevris (or kvrevris), large jars of 3500 liters buried in the ground. Traditionally, wine has always been what we now consider organic, but the term "organic wine" appeared at the end of the 20th century, in reaction to the hyper-industrialization of wine. Indeed, it was in a context of wine globalization after the Second World War that wine production began to flood the global market with wines full of additives and synthetic chemicals to achieve higher yields and more standardized production, known as conventional wine. Organic wine is therefore a logical response to conventional wine; it aims to be more environmentally friendly and adheres to strict specifications governing wine production.
Organic wine is therefore a wine (red wine, white wine, rosé wine, orange wine, sparkling wine) made from organic farming. Organic wine first met the European specifications of 1991, which governed the principles of organic farming only in the vineyard. It was not until 2012 that new European specifications were published, this time stipulating organic farming regulations also in the cellar.
As mentioned above, wine from organic farming has theoretically always existed, but it is only since 2012 that it has been regulated and controlled by strict specifications in both the vineyard and the cellar. To summarize its obligations, organic wine must be made from certified organic grapes, as well as the sugar, must, or alcohol used during chaptalization and mutage. Also, its specifications prohibit certain winemaking practices such as de-alcoholization, electrodialysis, or thermovinification. The European Union also mandates a sulfite level 50 milligrams per liter lower than conventional wines, i.e., a maximum of 100 milligrams per liter for organic red wines and a maximum of 150 milligrams per liter for organic white wines.
The organic sector is booming, representing nearly 10% of global vineyard area in 2021 with growth of +3.2% compared to 2020 and +78% in 10 years. France is a leader in this field, hosting nearly a third of the world's organic vineyards, followed by its Italian and Spanish neighbors. But organic farming is not only beneficial for the environment; it is also a driver of social well-being. According to a study by Riccardo Vecchio, the organic wine industry creates 50% more jobs than the conventional wine industry, offering more stable jobs with a third of certified farms employing one or more permanent employees, compared to one in five for uncertified farms.
What are the different organic labels recognized in France?
It is INAO that delegates organic farming control and certification activities to independent and approved certification bodies, including Agrocert, Bureau Veritas Certification France, Certipaq bio, Certis, Certisud, Ecocert, Qualisud, Bureau Alpes Contrôles. Every year, certified vineyards are audited by one of these bodies, and in case of irregularity, a unique catalog of measures is applied. A label project to identify farms in the conversion phase (over one or more years) is also under study.
However, for some winemakers, the AB label is too flexible and allows for farming that claims to be organic but has some industrial deviations, notably with the support of large retailers who are trying to seize these new market opportunities. Therefore, two new labels have emerged: Nature & Progrès and Bio Cohérence have stricter specifications, including a ban on sales through mass distribution channels, a measure whose implementation aims to promote short supply chains.
It should be noted that there are many other labels categorizing organic wines that have stricter specifications. Demeter and Biodyvin regulate biodynamic wines or wines from biodynamic winemaking, an esoteric viticulture that considers the vine as a living ecosystem with more rigorous legislation on operations carried out in the cellar. Stricter than biodynamics (or biodynamic wine), the Vin Méthode Nature label proposes a charter for natural wine with an emphasis on low addition of sulfites in the wine and the use of indigenous yeasts. Terra Vitis and Haute Valeur Environnementale are two labels that promote sustainable development, through the preservation of biodiversity, phytosanitary strategies, and fertilization and irrigation management.
Finally, it should also be remembered that many winemakers refuse to be categorized under any label because it would mean denying the principle of the agricultural counter-model: emancipating oneself from standardized norms, not fitting into boxes. This can be seen as a way for the winemaker to assert themselves as unique and with a strong identity.
How is consuming organic wine better for the environment?
One of the great strengths of organic winemakers is their ability to bring life back to the soil and the surrounding flora and fauna. In France, viticulture accounts for 20% of agricultural pesticide use, compared to only 3% of agricultural land. Organic viticulture therefore emerges as an ecological hope: little to no use of phytosanitary products, recourse to organic fertilizers and compost, a reduction of up to one-third of CO2 emissions compared to conventional wine. With better respect for the vine, there is on the one hand a rebirth of the soil, which slows down erosion and promotes subterranean flora and fauna, and on the other hand, a rebirth of pollinators (bees, butterflies...) thanks to an increasing presence of life between the vines (hedges, wild plants, shrubs...).
Organic viticulture also allows for better water management, notably with less water stress (more organic matter in the soil allows for better water retention) and especially less artificial irrigation (the resilience of the vine is preferred). Each cuvée, each vintage, each bottle, in short, each wine from organic farming is therefore directly influenced by climatic hazards, which makes it possible to produce a wine (red wine, white wine, rosé wine, orange wine, sparkling wine) with its own distinct and marked personality.
How is consuming organic wine better for health?
No one can deny that alcohol, and therefore wine, is dangerous for health and should be consumed in moderation. Nevertheless, where conventional wine may contain pesticide residues, additives, and chemicals, organic wine reduces the presence of these harmful substances. It is also full of living bacteria and yeasts that can have benefits for the microbiota, including improved blood vessel function, improved protection of brain cells against cognitive damage, reduced risk of certain types of cancer (especially breast cancer), and better digestion thanks to the production of digestive enzymes stimulated by wine.
Another undeniable health benefit of organic wine is the reduction of sulfites, preservatives widely used in conventional wine to stabilize it. For an equivalent amount consumed, an organic wine will cause fewer headaches the next day than a conventional wine!
What are the advantages of organic farming for winemakers?
When we talk about organic wine, we often think about the health of our planet or our body, but we think much less about the health of our winemakers. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to observe cases of cancer or respiratory problems among winegrowers, due to synthetic chemicals used such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers. Conversely, organic wine aims to drastically reduce these substances, so organic viticulture is beneficial for those who work the vines daily.
Although organic farming requires more physical and organizational effort, it exposes winemakers to significantly fewer toxic products. The use of alternative methods is also beneficial from a psychological point of view, as some producers state that the quality of the organic wine produced offers and brings a deep meaning to their profession, and according to a virtuous circle, this helps maintain a respectful, attentive, and intuitive relationship with their wine work.
But organic farming is also synonymous with short supply chains and therefore support for local economies with a win-win situation for all: the consumer has full traceability of the bottles consumed, and the producer has an income that better reflects the reality of their work. A virtuous system is thus created where the winemaker has more financial resources, allowing them to experiment with new things (new grape varieties, for example) and thus increase consumer satisfaction.
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966 products
Amber Rum 45° - 70cl
Longueteau Amber Rum is made from white rum and stored for eighteen months in oak barrels that previously contained cognac. There, it acquires a light tawny color, a delicate honeyed, cinnamon, and vanilla note, supported by a subtle acidity, while retaining a hint of the freshness of white rum. It's an all-terrain vintage that will delight rum lovers, but also bartenders, cooks, pastry chefs, and even those with a cold who will be delighted to be able to make themselves a grog.
To find out more
The Longueteau distillery, located in Capesterre-Belle-Eau (Guadeloupe), is the oldest distillery on the island still in operation. It has the distinction of being entirely self-sufficient in sugar cane production, which it uses to obtain its magnificent terroir agricultural rums. Agricultural rum, we should point out, is made from pure sugar cane juice, unlike many other Caribbean rums, which are produced from cane molasses. It is a specialty of the French Antilles. The estate is currently in the hands of François Longueteau, a distiller since 1979. Production is, as it was originally, artisanal and traditional, but the sugarcane terroirs are developed using plot-by-plot methods—this is Longueteau's unique feature, the first distillery on the island to adopt this approach. Two varieties of sugarcane, blue cane and red cane, are cultivated, as well as fruits from the Guadeloupe region. Longueteau rums and the resulting preparations (punches, shrubberies, etc.) are fine, aromatic, deep, and fragrant.
Frédéric Cossard - Domaine de Chassorney
Morey Saint Denis les Champs de la Vigne Qvevris Red 2022
15050
€150,50
Unit price perFrédéric Cossard - Domaine de Chassorney
Morey Saint Denis les Champs de la Vigne Qvevris Red 2022
15050
€150,50
Unit price perMorey Saint Denis les Champs de la Vigne Qvevris Red 2022
This great organic and natural red Burgundy wine is produced by Frédéric Cossard. Made entirely from Pinot Noir (a Pinot Fin variety), it is produced in the Morey-Saint-Denis appellation and comes from the "Les Champs de la Vigne" climate. Its distinctive feature is its terracotta aging, which suits it well.
Vinification
The vines grow on a clay-limestone plot and are around sixty years old. They are made from Pinot Fin grapes, an old strain of Pinot Noir that is increasingly rare in Burgundy. The harvest macerates in whole bunches and the wine is aged in qvevri (Georgian-style terracotta jars) for at least a year. This maturation gives it a velvety patina and allows its red fruit aromas to flourish.
Tasting
Typical of the Morey-Saint-Denis climate, this Champs de la Vigne is a powerful and complex wine, offering notes of violet and red fruits. It expresses opulent fruit and remarkable minerality. Great elegance and finesse, silky and satiny with a lovely earthy and mineral nuance. The qvevri accentuates its fruitiness and the melting tannins. It will be a pleasure to pair it with grilled duck breast, grilled meats, beef, charcuterie and salted meats.
Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney
Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney give the floor to organic and natural wines from Burgundy (and elsewhere), undistorted by agricultural chemistry, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever the grapes come from, his wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and creative.
Between viticulture and trade
Frédéric Cossard created the domaine de Chassorney in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. In 2006, he created his own trading house and buys organic grapes from the greatest climates of Burgundy, but also from Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere.
A solid commitment to nature
At Frédéric Cossard, the work of the soil and the vines is done naturally: plowing by horse, biodynamics, no chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The harvest, by hand, is carried out at full maturity. Frédéric Cossard's vintages are rare and sought-after, wines that are always highly anticipated but which sometimes require waiting.
Frédéric Cossard - Domaine de Chassorney
Burgundy Bigotes Qvevris White 2022
6390
€63,90
Unit price perFrédéric Cossard - Domaine de Chassorney
Burgundy Bigotes Qvevris White 2022
6390
€63,90
Unit price perBurgundy Bigotes Qvevris White 2022,
Frédéric Cossard
With the Burgundy Bigotes Qvevris White 2022, Frédéric Cossard explores a unique approach to Chardonnay, aging it in qvevris (Georgian amphorae). This ancestral vinification method allows the terroir to be expressed in a unique way, producing a white wine that is both pure and structured.
An exceptional Chardonnay
Grown on clay-limestone soils, this wine benefits from a vinification process without additives and aging in qvevris, which brings a beautiful aromatic complexity and a silky texture. Its mineral and taut profile makes it an atypical and fascinating cuvée.
An expressive nose and a vibrant palate
The nose reveals notes of ripe white fruits, citrus fruits and dried flowers, with a mineral and slightly smoky touch. On the palate, the body is ample and structured, carried by a vibrant acidity and a long and saline finish.
What to enjoy with this wine?
Ideally served at 10-12°C, this white Burgundy will go perfectly with oysters, fish ceviche or mature goat cheeses. Its aging potential of 5 to 10 years will allow it to evolve towards even more complex and deep aromas.
Brandy,
Distillerie du Viaduc
Distillerie du Viaduc, a leading artisan of exceptional eaux-de-vie in the Île-de-France region, unveils its Brandy, a distinguished and elegant spirit made from the rare Avgoustatis grape variety. This brandy, carefully crafted using a double distillation process, reveals a complex and seductive aromatic palette, combining depth and finesse.
Preparation of a refined brandy
This brandy is precisely distilled to preserve the aromatic richness of the Avgoustatis grape variety, an unusual Greek variety renowned for its concentrated aromas. Aged in barrels, it develops a balanced structure and complexity worthy of the finest spirits. Its deep golden color testifies to its careful aging, while its 43% alcohol content ensures a beautiful intensity on the palate.
A powerful nose and a velvety palate
From the first nose, this brandy reveals captivating notes of candied cherry and prune, complemented by a subtle touch of woody vanilla brought by the time spent in barrels. On the palate, it reveals itself to be full-bodied and structured, with a sweet and fruity attack, followed by a harmonious rise in power. The finish is long and persistent, marked by slightly spicy aromas and a beautiful warm sensation.
How to enjoy it?
Ideal as a digestif, this brandy can be savored neat to appreciate all its aromatic complexity. It also lends itself to sophisticated cocktails, bringing depth and elegance to classic creations such as a Brandy Sour or a revisited Old Fashioned.
Disco (Eau de vie)
Distillerie du Viaduc
Distillerie du Viaduc, a young artisan house from the Paris region, offers us a bold and festive interpretation of wine brandy with Disco. Made from the Muscat Petit Grain grape variety, this unique cuvée reinvents the traditional Peruvian Pisco with a decidedly funky and floral approach.
A vibrant and aromatic eau-de-vie
Produced from Muscat Petit Grain grapes from the island of Samos, vinified by the talented Patrick Bouju, this eau-de-vie benefits from a careful double distillation. Without aging, it expresses all the purity of the fruit and retains a great aromatic intensity. Its profile is at once rich, floral and elegant, with a beautiful roundness in the mouth and a lingering finish.
A captivating nose and a smooth palate
From the first nose, Disco reveals an expressive bouquet with notes of white flowers, white-fleshed fruits and delicate honey. On the palate, it combines finesse and intensity, with a gentle attack, followed by a rise in power marked by a beautiful controlled warmth. The finish, long and aromatic, leaves a delicately sweet and floral imprint.
How to enjoy Disco?
With its 40° alcohol content, this eau-de-vie is ideal as a digestif, served neat to appreciate all its complexity. It is also perfectly suited to mixology, where its floral and fruity aromas will enhance refined cocktails such as a revisited Pisco Sour or an aromatic white Martini.
Frédéric Cossard - Domaine de Chassorney
Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru “Monts Luisants” Red 2022
20500
€205,00
Unit price perFrédéric Cossard - Domaine de Chassorney
Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru “Monts Luisants” Red 2022
20500
€205,00
Unit price perMorey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru "Monts Luisants" Red 2022,
Frédéric Cossard 2022
From the Monts Luisants plot, this organic and natural red premier cru is a rarity. Vinified by Frédéric Cossard, it is a beautiful Burgundy wine in the Morey-Saint-Denis appellation, in the Côte de Nuits.
Vinification
The small clay-limestone Monts Luisants plot is located above the village of Morey-Saint-Denis. The Pinot Noir planted here is of the Pinot Fin variety, a very old and increasingly rare strain. The vines are around seventy years old. The vines are cultivated without pesticides and the wine is made without any additives or added sulfites, with whole bunch maceration.
Tasting
A dense, powerful, complex and elegant wine, a Burgundian gem like Frédéric Cossard knows how to make. This Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru "Monts Luisants" is overflowing with aromas of fresh fruit, substance and depth, with notes of red fruits and violets. This bewitching wine promises to improve for a long time, ten years and more. If you don't taste it beforehand, enjoy it with charcuterie, cured meats, roasted or grilled meats. A beautiful piece of wagyu from Spain or Japan selected by Aitana, that sounds tempting! Or a good fatty steak from Mézenc, not bad either with this great Burgundy.
Learn more about Frédéric Cossard
Frédéric Cossard gives the floor in organic and natural mode to the wines of Burgundy (and elsewhere), undistorted by agricultural chemicals, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever the grapes come from, his wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and creative.
Between viticulture and trading
Frédéric Cossard created the Chassorney estate in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, then ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. Since the recent sale of this estate, Frédéric continues to manage his trading house, created in 2006 in his own name. He vinifies grapes from the greatest climates of Burgundy, but also from the Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere.
A solid commitment to nature
At Frédéric Cossard, the work of the soil and the vines is done naturally: plowing by horse, biodynamics, no chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The harvest, by hand, is carried out at full maturity. Frédéric Cossard's vintages are rare and coveted, wines that are always highly anticipated but which sometimes require waiting.
Frédéric Cossard - Domaine de Chassorney
Mercurey Les Vignes Blanches Qvevris Red 2022
7200
€72,00
Unit price perFrédéric Cossard - Domaine de Chassorney
Mercurey Les Vignes Blanches Qvevris Red 2022
7200
€72,00
Unit price perMercurey Les Vignes Blanches Qvevris Red 2022
The "Les Vignes Blanches" vintage is an organic and natural red wine from the Bourgogne-Mercurey appellation. It is produced by Frédéric Cossard, exclusively from Pinot Noir and aged in terracotta containers (qvevris).
Vinification
Les Vignes Blanches is a climat in the Mercurey appellation with clay-limestone soil. Frédéric Cossard vinified and aged it in qvevri (Georgian-style buried jars), which gives it a patina, rounds it out, and accentuates its velvety texture and depth. It is aged for one year.
Tasting
Fresh, wild, and intense, this Mercurey "Les Vignes Blanches" is a pleasure to drink with abandon. Morello cherries, black fruits, cherry, raspberry, complexity on the nose, giving way to floral then mineral and roasted notes. On the palate, there is plenty of fruit, sap, breadth, and density, with silky, melted tannins of great finesse, completely devoid of harshness. Long, fruity, and distinguished finish. Made for the rib steak, the beef fillet, the roast duck, the fine charcuterie.
Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the Domaine de Chassorney
Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney give the floor in organic and natural mode to Burgundy wines (and moreover), not distorted by agricultural chemistry, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever the grapes come from, his wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and creative.
Between viticulture and trade
Frédéric Cossard created the domaine de Chassorney in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. In 2006, he created his own trading house and buys organic grapes from the greatest climates of Burgundy, but also from Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere.
A solid commitment to nature
At Frédéric Cossard, the work of the soil and the vines is done naturally: plowing by horse, biodynamics, no chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The harvest, by hand, is carried out at full maturity. Frédéric Cossard's vintages are rare and sought-after, wines that are always highly anticipated but which sometimes require waiting.
In Absentia Red 2018
Entirely produced in the north of El Bierzo from trousseau (locally called bastarda) on various quartz-clay-limestone plots at an altitude of 550 meters. The vines are seventy to ninety years old. Maceration lasts three to four days in chestnut vats, followed by nine months of aging in French oak barrels. No filtration, no added sulfites. Dark garnet color, smoky and fruity nose (trousseau-style: black cherry and raspberry), with a characteristic hint of bitter cocoa and peony. The mouthfeel is full and velvety, the flavor is fruity and smoky, both crisp and mineral. The delicious finish calls for another sip... Serve with roasted game birds, rare pigeon, roast venison, coq au vin, or chicken mole poblano. In a carafe, it will fully express its charms.
i Vicini Moscato White 2022
I Vicini Moscato is an organic, biodynamic, and natural macerated (orange) dry white wine from Jean-Yves Péron. Vinified in Savoie using Muscat d'Asti. It is part of the I Vicini series of cuvées, vinified in Savoie using organic grapes from Northern Italy.
Vinification
The Muscats in this I Vicini series grow on very fine, calcareous-magnesian limestone soils, on a particularly cool site. Harvested by hand at good phenolic maturity, they macerate for two months in vats on the skins with punching down. Aged for one year in 300-liter barrels. No filtration, fining, or addition of sulfites.
Tasting
Straightness, tension, and freshness: this beautiful Muscat d'Asti offers the aromatic and musky nose specific to the grape variety, without any syrupy notes. A very present tannic structure balances the whole. On the palate, it is rich and powerful; we find the charming scent of Muscat in the retro-olfaction, but with the tension and freshness that Jean-Yves Péron loves for his dry whites. It is a great table wine, not really for an aperitif, but for gastronomy, no limits.
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron talentedly embodies the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italo-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
i Vicini Barbera Red 2022
I Vicini Barbera by Jean-Yves Péron is an organic, biodynamic, and natural red wine. It is vinified in Savoie from Barbera grapes harvested in Piedmont.
Vinification
Barbera is grown in Asti and Alba. The second most widely used red grape variety in Italy after Sangiovese, it produces full-bodied, colorful wines with red fruits. Harvested by hand, no sulfites added, no filtration, no fining. Both Barberas are macerated for three months with punching down and undergo a fifteen-day carbonic maceration. The wine is aged for one year in 300-liter barrels.
Tasting
This I Vicini Barbera is a great wine in every sense of the word. Long, very fruity, generous, deep, with superb acidity resulting from a moderately ripe harvest, it is both serious and joyful, intense and concentrated. Finesse, minerality, tension, a beautiful, intense and colorful red color: it begs to accompany fine cuts of meat and roasts.
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italo-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
Les Barrieux White 2022
Organic, biodynamic, and natural, Les Barrieux is a dry white wine from Savoie produced by Jean-Yves Péron on the schist-limestone soils of his Albertville plots. Classified as a Vin de France, it is a rare cuvée made from the Roussanne grape variety.
Vinification
The vinification of Les Barrieux, produced by hand, begins with two weeks of carbonic maceration. Aging lasts one year in 12-hl tuns and 300-liter barrels. This wine has not been filtered, fined, or sulphites added.
Tasting
Les Barrieux by Jean-Yves Péron is a macerated white wine with wonderful notes of leather, smoke, and candied quince, followed by a complex floral and citrus olfactory bouquet and preceding a long aromatic finish. Delicious, rich, full-bodied, powerful, it is a gastronomic wine that can withstand anything. It can accompany everything.
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italo-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
Ceci n'est pas un vin White 2023
Ceci n'est pas un vin is still a wine, white, dry, organic, and natural, with no added sulfites. Made in Beaujolais by Cyril of La Tribu Alonso, it is classified as a Vin de France. It is 100% Chardonnay, but there are twenty-eight different varieties in the bottle. Just as the red wine Ambre dissolve is inspired by Salvador Dalí, this one obviously alludes to Henri Magritte (see the label).
Vinification
The collection of twenty-eight Chardonnays from the ampelothèque, from which Ceci n’est pas un vin is made, is planted on a half-hectare plot on granite, with wild grass, agroforestry and no tillage. The vines, pruned in the goblet style, are between four and thirty years old. There are Chardonnays here of all tastes and colors (white, pink, muscaté, etc.), and it seems that the multiplicity of grape varieties gives a whole new face to this Chardonnay, unfortunately a little overused in the world of viticulture. "We are moving away from the boring Chardonnay," says Cyril. The manual harvest goes into direct pressing and, after a 48-hour settling process, only sees from the vat to its bottling. Alcoholic fermentation without starter culture using indigenous yeasts, malolactic fermentation also in fiberglass vats. Zero chemical inputs, in the vineyard and in the cellar, and zero added sulfites.
Tasting
Surprisingly, Ceci n’est pas un vin: the opposite of classic Chardonnay, it has great qualities of resistance. Solid, fine and balanced. A dry white wine with no added sulfites that has a very long shelf life once opened, it is rare and unique. It can last, recorked, for a whole week. On the nose and palate, it is a marvel of perfume and aroma, as if it offered the quintessence of Chardonnay through all its varieties. Salty, iodized, aromatic and floral, it evokes peach or apricot blossom, white peach, and its acidity-alcohol balance will allow it to be kept between 5 and 7 years. It can be drunk whenever you want, with oysters, shellfish, raw or smoked fish, tapas, fine starters and any elegant and refined cuisine.
Learn more about the Alonso Tribe
This tribal name refers to Cyril Alonso, winemaker, his wife, naturopath, and their family. They take care, using organic farming methods, of a conservatory of traditional grape varieties from the Rhône-Alpes region located in Marchampt (Rhône), in the heart of the Beaujolais Vert region. This two-and-a-half-hectare ampel library, which has existed since 1952, contained forty grape varieties. It currently contains one hundred and forty. This unique location gives the Tribu Alonso wines their particular style. Instead of being single-varietal microcuvées, they are quite the opposite: wines by grape variety family, either a Chardonnay containing all the Chardonnays of the house or a multi-Gamay Gamay.
A biotope classified in 2008
The estate enjoys a unique ecological location: the house and the vineyard are surrounded by untouched forests, on the steep terrain of northern Beaujolais. Three rivers cross it, and the vines, close to the bedrock, capture all the minerality of the soil. Organic farming is practiced and the work, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, is entirely manual, without the use of any chemical additives or sulfites in the winemaking process.
The wines
Cuvées of co-plantation (and for good reason), the wines of the Tribu Alonso embrace all the complexity of their grape varieties and the viticultural history of Beaujolais. These are carefully crafted wines, made with great care, fermented and aged to the sound of Tibetan bowls, whose alpha waves are beneficial to the liquids. The vatting periods are short, to preserve the freshness and fruit, as well as the signature of the soil and grape varieties.
Borgonon Granate Red 2006,
Borgoñón Granate is an organic and natural red wine from Andalusia made from Pinot Noir. Classified as Vino de Mesa (table wine), it is vinified by Cortijo Barranco Oscuro. As its name suggests, it draws inspiration from Burgundy. This 2006, which has had time to reflect, is one of the best vintages of this cuvée.
Vinification
This wine comes from Pinot Noir vines planted at an altitude of 1,280 meters on schist soils. The wine is aged for one year in old barrels.
Tasting
Borgoñón Granate is a beautifully atypical wine that displays remarkable density while being relatively clear and not very concentrated (a reference to Burgundy). Intense red fruits, cherries, melted and velvety tannins, and a long and seductive smoky finish. It ages well. Great balance, melted tannins, pair it with a beautiful grilled prime rib or Spanish canned fish. A pata negra ham? Certainly, it's a compatriot.
Learn more about Cortijo Barranco Oscuro
Manuel Valenzuela cultivates the highest vines in the world (1,368 meters), in Andalusia, on the Sierra Contraviesa. Barranco oscuro means "dark valley," a reminder of the original site of the property, which was moved at the end of the 19th century after the phylloxera crisis. In 1979, the estate was taken over by Manuel, who decided to use natural methods in preference to those of modern oenology.
A drop of 1,400 meters
At first, he bought grapes, but his goal was to replant vines. Currently, the twelve hectares of Cortijo Barranco Oscuro extend over a drop of almost 1,400 meters. On a poor, dry, schistose terroir, two localities concentrate the plots: Cerro Las Monjas at the very top and Hoyo y Cerro de Las Gayumbas lower down, near the winery buildings.
High-altitude wines
Strong thermal contrasts explain the freshness of the wines, produced without the addition of exogenous yeasts and without inputs in the vineyard or cellar. Although the estate is not certified organic due to the disillusionment that fraud in this area has brought Manuel, his estate is a member of the Spanish Association of Natural Wine Producers. His wines are straightforward and clean, without compromise: they give joy through the seriousness of the work that was necessary to produce them.
Vin de Lies White 2019/20 Magnum
Vin de Lies is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine that Jean-Yves Péron makes every two vintages in his Savoyard cellars. It is based on a viticultural practice that is little known outside the profession, but which produces a highly regarded wine. It is not normally sold commercially but reserved for the cellar team. Classified as a Vin de France, it is therefore a treat bestowed upon us by the winemaker. And I might as well tell you that the magnum format makes it an even more monumental treat... The roundness and polish of the wine are further enhanced;
Vinification
The lees wine method consists, after racking the barrels or aging tanks, of gathering all the lees in a single tank. These lees are suspended in a small quantity of wine, which is again decanted and recovered once or twice. Nourished by the lees, the red obtained in this way is smoother, softer, and the white is less tense, rounder. To make this vintage, Jean-Yves Péron combined the lees from all his 2019 whites and some of those from 2020 (thus bringing together all his terroirs, both Savoyard and Italian). The grape varieties include Jacquère, Muscat, Altesse, Mondeuse, Favorita (Vermentino), Muscat à Petit Grain, Roussanne…
Tasting
This is the true “house cuvée,” generally very popular. “It’s a wine for pleasure,” says Jean-Yves Péron. “It can be drunk anytime, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.!” We can predict this moment of grace for next winter, which is upon us as this cuvée is released. Pairings: it goes with everything. Beautiful poultry, fine fish, seafood and shellfish…
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (jacquère, altesse, mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semi-carbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then transferred to two- or three-wine barrels for twelve months of aging on lees, before blending and resting in the vat. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
Les Oeillets White 2021
Les Œillets is a dry white maceration wine harvested and vinified in Savoie by Jean-Yves Péron. Organic, biodynamic and natural, this is a 100% Jacquère white wine whose vines grow on clay-limestone soil, in the place called Les Marches, at the foot of Mont Granier.
Vinification
It is roughly the same terroir as that of La Petite Robe, harvested later to obtain greater phenolic maturity and a higher tannic concentration. Carbonic maceration for four or five days is followed by ten days of punching down in vats. At least one year of aging in 225-liter barrels. Neither fined, nor filtered, nor sulfited.
Tasting
Superbly structured, Les Œillets has chew, texture, a tannic mouthfeel and a note of controlled oxidation. The tension is strong, balanced by a note of apricot. Woody, with explosive minerality and beautiful tension, it is an atypical white, with powerful aromatic notes. Lots of fruit and candied citrus. With this, you can enjoy a good Bigorre black ham, unless a smoked salmon presents itself. Or, the best of the best, treat yourself: an exceptional beef ham from Maison Aitana, made from wagyu or black angus.
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (jacquère, altesse, mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semi-carbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then transferred to two- or three-wine barrels for twelve months of aging on lees, before blending and resting in the vat. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
Munjebel CR Red 2020
Cornelissen
Munjebel CR is a single-plot red cuvée, certified organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural. It is made from pure Nerello Mascalese grapes by Frank Cornelissen in the PDO (Personal Designation of Origin) Etna Rosso/PGI Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. Munjebel CR comes from the Campo Re plot, which is partially ungrafted and approximately 70 years old, located in the far west of the valley at an altitude of 735 meters. The soil is deep, and ripeness is difficult to achieve in wet years. This gives a particular character to the wines from this plot, closer to Nebbiolo (a typical Tuscan grape variety) than the other reds from Azienda Frank Cornelissen.
Vinification
Grown biodynamically, the Nerello Mascalese grapes of Munjebel CR are destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermentation, starting from a starter culture and using indigenous yeasts, is accompanied by a 50-day skin maceration. No fining, light filtration before bottling.
Tasting
Munjebel CR is a deep, elegant and tannic wine. It may take a while to express itself. With its great freshness, it needs to be paired with meats with character. A roast rack of black pork from Bigorre, or a rib of beef from Wagyu or Angus from the Maison Aitana, that's the perfect match.
Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.
An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.
The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…
Munjebel CD Red 2020
Cornelissen
Munjebel CD is a single-plot red cuvée, certified organic (Eurofeuille) and biodynamic. Made from 100% Nerello Mascalese, it is produced by Frank Cornelissen in the DOP (AOP) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. It comes from a single plot in the Calderara Sottana contrada, at an altitude of 610 m, facing north. This high-quality contrada is appreciated in cold and difficult vintages: its gravelly soil absorbs heat and re-radiates it during the coldest hours of the night.
Vinification
100% Nerello Mascalese, Munjebel CD comes from 40-year-old vines cultivated biodynamically. The grapes are destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermentation starts from a vat foot and is accompanied by a 50-day skin maceration. Aged for 18 months in epoxy vats, then 18 months in bottles. No fining, light filtration.
Tasting
This highly regarded contrada produces quite feminine wines, combining elegance and depth, especially in the best years. You can pair them with red meats, charcuterie, and great Italian, Iberian, or Gascon hams. For example, ham from black pork from Bigorre or a cecina (beef ham) from maison Aitana.
Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.
An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.
The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…
Nails and Dust Red 2021
Behind this metallic and dusty appellation (the translation of the cuvée's name) lies a wine of character, lively and mineral, full of sap and vitality. It is made from Minervois Carignan grapes macerated and crushed for six days, resulting in a beautiful extraction of tannins that need to soften slightly. At the time of writing (March 2023), this wine still requires approximately one year of bottle aging before it can be optimally enjoyed. After this time, it will reveal all its passion and energy. An excellent companion to red meats, grilled meats, grilled sausages, and good times with friends.
Find out more
Founded and run by Claire Sage and Aimé Duveau, located in Chanteuges (Haute-Loire), Belly Wine Experiment is as much an experience as a winemaking business. The creative duo has a lot in common: Claire is the sister of Daniel Sage, a fan of underwater wine aging but above all an importer of Catalan wines. Hence the presence of Catalan grape varieties in Belly Wine Experiment's blends, alongside Burgundy, Auvergne, and Jura grape varieties, all readily found in the same bottle. Aimé is the son of Manu Duveau, a poet-winemaker from Auvergne, a former stonemason, and a great winemaker of local Gamays at his Domaine de l'Égrappille. Belly Wine Experiment's unique feature is the exoticism (in the literal sense) of its blends, with Catalan Xarello, for example, blending effortlessly with Puy-de-Dôme Gamay. The wines are made using semi-carbonic maceration, without the addition of chemical additives or excessive manipulation in the cellar. The winery is also known for its high-quality, vinous perries.
Grisou Rosé 2021
Belly Wine Experiment
Complex, refreshing, unusual, and delicious… A rosé, obviously, but with a fairly solid structure. One might guess from its name that it's a vin gris, and its color gives us the final hint. Grisou is a vin gris (therefore) quite typical of Belly Wine's experimental passion, since it is made from Carignan from the South and Pinot Gris from Heiligenstein (Alsace) grown on clay-siliceous soils. Two very different terroirs are united in one wine. Let's remember that Grisou, like Rosé, is a still wine with a pale color made from black grapes in short maceration. Here, it's a little more complicated since two-thirds of the grapes are directly pressed, the remaining third being crushed in whole bunches and macerated for four days. Disgorging takes place two months later. This wine is organically grown and has received no chemical inputs or sulfites, in the vineyard or in the cellar. As it plays on several levels, both light and straightforward, Grisou can allow for very wide pairings.
To find out more
Founded and run by Claire Sage and Aimé Duveau, located in Chanteuges (Haute-Loire), Belly Wine Experiment is as much an experiment as a winemaking business. The creative duo has it in spades: Claire is the sister of Daniel Sage, a fan of underwater wine aging but above all an importer of Catalan wines. Hence the presence of Catalan grape varieties in Belly Wine Experiment's blends, alongside Burgundy, Auvergne, and Jura grape varieties, readily found in the same bottle. Aimé is the son of Manu Duveau, a poet-winemaker from Auvergne, a former stonemason, and a great winemaker of local Gamays at his Domaine de l'Égrappille. The uniqueness of Belly Wine Experiment is the exoticism (in the literal sense) of the blends, with Xarel lo from Catalonia, for example, being able to sit alongside Gamay from Puy-de-Dôme with the utmost naturalness. The wines are made using semicarbonic maceration, without the addition of chemical additives or excessive manipulation in the cellar. The house is also known for its very high-quality, vinous perries.
Crac Rosé 2021
Belly Wine Experiment
Fresh, fruity, and pleasant, Crac is a vin gris, a still rosé wine made entirely or partially from black grapes. It generally undergoes a very short maceration, hence its light color. This is obtained by slow direct pressing (forty-eight hours) of Auvergne Gamays "sur limagne," or on the dark-colored sedimentary and volcanic soils that make up the Auvergne plain. This slow pressing, replacing a short maceration, allows for a gentle extraction of the grape's constituents and gives the wine its color. To these Auvergne Gamays are added a proportion of Pinot Gris from Alsace. Categorized as Vin de France, free from any chemical or sulfite additives in the vineyard or in the cellar, Crac spends a year aging on lees before bottling. This wine is produced using organic farming methods and has received no chemical or sulfite additives, in the vineyard or in the cellar. It will go very well with charcuterie, cured meats, and tapas of all kinds.
To find out more
Founded and run by Claire Sage and Aimé Duveau, located in Chanteuges (Haute-Loire), Belly Wine Experiment is as much an experiment as it is a winemaking business. The creative duo has a lot to offer: Claire is the sister of Daniel Sage, a fan of underwater wine aging but above all an importer of Catalan wines. Hence the presence of Catalan grape varieties in Belly Wine Experiment's blends, alongside Burgundy, Auvergne and Jura grape varieties, readily found in the same bottle. Aimé is the son of Manu Duveau, a poet-winemaker from Auvergne, a former stonemason and a great winemaker of local Gamays at his Domaine de l'Égrappille. The specificity of Belly Wine Experiment is the exoticism (in the literal sense) of the blends, with Xarel lo from Catalonia being able to rub shoulders, for example, with Gamay from Puy-de-Dôme with the utmost naturalness. The wines are made using semicarbonic maceration, without the addition of chemical additives or excessive manipulation in the cellar. The house is also known for its very high-quality, vinous perries.
