Alain Chabanon
Alain studied agriculture in Bordeaux and Montpellier and then worked for two years for Alain Brumont, the iconic man behind the revival of Madiran. He bought vineyards in the late 80s and released his first wine in 1992. Now with 17 hectares on 5 villages, Alain aims to make exceptional wines of true personality. His wines age beautifully and are celebrated around the world.
Amor per la Terra
“Amor per la Terra” meaning “love for the land” in Catalan is a project run by Jaume Jordà, Salvador Batlle (Cosmic) and Xavi Rutia. It’s a collaborative partnership between friends, with a cyclical goal of supporting farmers doing things in the “old way” and thereby, protecting the land. These bottles are all about storytelling.
Ampeleia
The Ampeleia estate began life in the 1960s when abandoned land was bought by a Swiss couple, Erica and Peter Max Suter. Turning it into an agricultural estate, the couple bred sheep and pigeons and planted the first vines, including the introduction of Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
Anthony Thévenet
Anthony worked for several years with two original organic farmers in Beaujolais; Georges Descombes and Jean Foillard. He inherited his grandfather’s 2.11 hectares of vines and started making his own wine in 2013. One of his plots has over 100-year-old vines and is used to make his incredible "Vieilles Vignes" cuvée. In 2014, he took over 1 hectare of vines on Morgon’s famous Côte du Py. He's fast become one to watch..
Athénaïs de Béru
Athénaïs’ de Béru is not just the person behind Château de Béru; she also produces her own highly-sought-after wines from grapes that she buys from local vineyards in the department of Yonne. The négoce has developed a partnership with neighbouring farmers whose grapes are cultivated organically or biodynamically. Athénaïs always remains faithful in creating an authentic expression of the grapes terroir without additives, whilst enjoying a great creative freedom in making their cuvées.
Azienda Agricola Divella
In 2012 Alessandra Divella started the only female-led estate in Franciacortia, Azienda Agricola Divella, and has become a true force to be reckoned with in the world of quality Italian sparkling wines. She creates elegant, terroir-driven wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the small village of Gussago. But she refuses to label her wines Franciacorta, choosing instead to use the name Gussago. She declares, “Franciacorta is something entirely different.” Gussago is one of a few areas of Franciacorta blessed with the only limestone and chalk soils in the region. Long ago, lakes in the foothills of the Alps fed underground springs here, creating these limestone soils through hundreds of years of erosion. These minerals in the soils are evident in the wines made in the area, and the wines are distinct from those made elsewhere in the region.
Bodegas Moraza
Janire is the 6th generation winemaker at the family Moraza. She urged her father and uncle to convert their 18 hectares to organic farming. All the wines are naturally fermented, unfiltered and single grape to ensure a true expression of the variety. They use only cement fermenters for vinification and ageing. One could say these are ‘modern’ Riojas, astonishingly fresh and unoaked.
Bodegas y Viñedos Rodrigo Méndez
Rodrigo Méndez is the winemaker behind Forjas del Salnés. Bodegas y Viñedos Rodrigo Méndez is a small project that was launched in 2012 with a focus on wines from the village of Meaño, in the heart of the Salnés valley where Rodrigo was born. Covering 2,5 ha, Rodrigo works with stainless tanks and 600 and 225-litre oak barrels. He produces very limited bottlings a year, following low intervention and organic methods of winemaking and vineyard management. The difference between these wines and Rodrigo's Forjas del Salnés project is akin to Burgundian village wine. Cíes is a village in Meaño that carries the same name as Rodrigo's entry-level white and red wine.
Bruno Ciofi
Bruno Ciofi started the project “Béret et Compagnie”. He assists small producers in the Loire Valley who are working the vines naturally but don't have enough power to bottle or commercialise their wines. Béret et Compagnie select only grapes from biodynamic or organic vineyards, and they also support converting their vineyards from conventional farming to natural farming.
Caroline Bain
Caroline made the decision in 2020 that she wanted to produce wines under her own name, following biodynamic practices. In total, Caroline works 2.5 hectares of vines located over 2 plots in Tracy-Sur-Loire - a commune that sits within Pouilly-Fumé AOC - though her wines are labelled VDF, giving her more freedom in her winemaking.
Château de Béru
It was out of respect for the rich history of the terroir that Château De Béru decided to convert to organic and biodynamic winemaking. The Béru family have owned the estate for 400 years, and even writings by 9th-century monks note the vineyards growing here. It was during the Middle Ages that the wines here received international appreciation, often appearing on royal tables. This was also when the 13th-century château was built, along with the walled vineyard, Clos Béru, a cuvée of which is still made.
Chateau le Puy
The first known ancestors of the Amoreau family date back to 1610. They lived pretty much exactly where the Le Puy estate is now, over 400 years later, so it’s safe to say it’s a family and a land steeped in history. The Amoreau family were pioneers in the world of viniculture, educating themselves in the benefits of holistic farming methods such as the use of vegetal fertilisers and cooperage techniques at an early stage, with Barthélemy Amoreau questioning the necessity for the use of sulphites all the way back in the mid 19th century.
Clos de la Coulée de Serrant
Nicolas Joly is France’s leading authority on biodynamic farming and has written at least 18 books on the subject, regularly holding lectures on the topic. His estate has been farmed this way since 1984. He is also the founder of Renaissance des Appellations. Nicolas and his daughter, Virginie, grow 7 hectares of Chenin Blanc on steep slopes of schist soils. The heritage here is rich as the vineyard was initially planted by Cistercian monks in 1130 and Louis XI and Louis XIV are said to have celebrated the wines. To this day, Nicolas and Virginie make absolutely superb wines that have outstanding ageing potential.
Clos Larrouyat
Maxime Salharang planted 3 hectares of vines in Jurançon on calcareous soil in 2011. He worked at Domaine de Souch for many years and learned gradually about biodynamic principles during his time there. Préambule 2014 was his first wine and he has kept the same fresh and distinctive style for Météore.
Clos Terre Kermès
“I make wines to enjoy - it’s about conviviality and simplicity. You don’t need to be a wine connoisseur - the main thing is to take pleasure and enjoy!” - Valérie Courrèges, Clos Terre Kermès
Cosmic
Salvador Batlle Barrabeig cultivates 9.5 ha of Catalonian landscape, connected by one focus - decoding terroirs, honouring grapes and interpreting the vines. Spread across Agullana, Capmany, La Vajol with sites in Rodonyà and the Sierra de Montmell in Baix Penedès, he tends to indigenous varieties from Empordà and Penedès alongside long-established foreign varieties. Each plot sits at varying altitudes between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea. Salvador farms organically and uses biodynamic practices when necessary, but he prefers to be recognised for his deep respect for the natural environment than to be categorised. Còsmic winemaking is the philosophy of taking care of vines with patience, passion, creativity and freedom. In the cellar, Salvador uses energetic cleansing, Geopathy and sound vibrations to achieve ultimate harmonisation. His winemaking is pure, delicate and fresh in style, creating wines that are connected to the present and underpinned by intentions and values that inspire him.
Cyril Zangs
Cyril Zangs had planned to be a winemaker and he even left Normandy to learn the trade but he was tempted back by the work of François “the Pope of Cider” David. Zangs was destined to become a cider-maker, just as his grandfather once was. David helped Zangs to learn the art of the craft, but soon Zangs was progressing in his own direction – making dry and sparkling ciders that would impress drinkers all around the world.
De Fermo
Stefano Papetti Ceroni’s interest in wine was obvious from the age of 12 when he started reading wine reviews in his mother’s cooking magazines. By age 18, he was buying every bottle he could. The route to a career in wine, though, was long. Both he and his wife, Eloisa De Fermo, had successful law careers in Bologna when they were married in 2005. “The goal is to have wines that have character, individuality, and that are genuine”
Domaine Abbatucci
The winemaking history of this family estate is over a hundred years old, with many generations of winemakers passing down their know-how. In the 60s, Antoine Abbatucci, witnessing the disappearance of local varieties in favour of ‘international’ ones so he decided to plant a 1-hectare ampelographic station, in an attempt to save 18 Corsican grape varieties from oblivion. His son Jean-Charles took over in 2000 and converted the estate to biodynamic. He started to graft some of these old varieties onto their existing vineyards. He now produces 14 different wines all from traditional Corsican varieties.
Domaine Causse Marines
Domaine Causse Marines in Gaillac, South-West France spans across 8 hectares. Patrice mainly grows indigenous grape varieties, such as Mauzac, Loin de l’Oeil, Braucol and Prunelard. His vines are planted on limestone and calcareous soils, on a rocky plateau. The vineyard management is very respectful of the grapes and the terroir, and the winemaking is based on very low interventions in the cellar. Patrice excels in all styles of wines from dry whites, sweets, and red and sparkling.
Domaine Cosse Maisonneuve
This project started in 1999 when Matthieu and Catherine took over 5 hectares of old vines of Malbec in Cahors. They’ve since grown to 15 hectares and produce 5 different Malbec wines from single vineyards. Passionate and perfectionists, Matthieu and Catherine are redefining the style of the Cahors appellation with wines that are the antithesis of the rustic style the region is sometimes known for. The winemaking is precise and creates elegant, smooth and vibrant wines that truly express their terroir, and have incredible ageing potential.
Domaine Danjou-Banessy
The art of winemaking must be in the blood of brothers Benoit and Sébastien Danjou-Banessy – grapes and vines have been a part of their family heritage for generations. In the 1950s, Benoit and Sébastien’s grandfather had bought further vineyards and created a “library” of rancios. Benoit worked alongside his grandfather until they produced their final vintage together in 2000. The wine production method is fully biodynamic and non-interventionist and has been for generations. All of these factors lead to delicious wines that are lively, elegant and softly textured.
Domaine de Bellevue
Domaine de Bellevue is an organic and biodynamic domaine in the Pays Nantais that is forging a modern path for Muscadet through creative winemaking, fearless experimentation and true passion.
Domaine de Beudon
Domaine de Beudon is a remarkable place; a tiny farm perched on the steep side of the Swiss Alps, locally known as the “vineyard in the sky”. Located above the village of Fully, “there are two ways to visit us,” explains owner Marion Granges. “One is by small cable car or you can walk for an hour via steep mountain tracks.” Domaine de Beudon is the only wine grower there. Produced in tiny quantities, from just a 6-hectare estate, Beudon wine very rarely makes it out of Switzerland and onto the international market. Cultivating vines there is highly challenging, every vine lives on steep rocky soil.
Domaine de Courbissac
This domain was founded on a biodynamic basis by German film producer Reinhard Brundig, when he bought it in 2002. Brundig was first attracted to the domain due to the complexity of the soil, its established and carefully nurtured vines, and the geographic location, near to Montagne Noire. Now the operation is led by Brunnhilde Claux, whose first vintage was in 2014.
Domaine de la Marèle
Mas Nicot vineyard has been in Stéphanie’s family since 1773. The fruits they grow used to be sold to the local cooperative. In 2004, she decided to isolate 8 hectares and make their own wine using organic farming, lowering the yields and producing around 8000 bottles of lovely, lovely wines. A motocross accident left her husband Fred paraplegic. In the vineyard, he found his new passion and life project.
Domaine de la Tournelle
Evelyne and Pascal have run this domain since 1991, and one of the things that stands out most is perhaps their meticulous approach to quality control of the grapes. To avoid them becoming damaged after picking, they are loaded into 20kg containers, which are then transported by sledge. This might sound trivial, but it has big implications for the wine – it means that there is rarely any need to add sulphur to compensate for grape damage. Plantation is achieved by selective breeding, rather than grafting, across their six hectares of land. Grass is planted in every other row to allow the tractor to pass but is carefully controlled and kept away from the vines themselves.
Domaine de Souch
When she lost her husband at 60 years old, Yvonne decided to fulfil their life dream of planting a vineyard around their house. On the hillsides, with the Pyrénées in the distance, the vines are planted in the local soil type called poudingues. This gravelly clay allows for the roots to push really deep into the sub-soil to find moisture and nutrients. The unique soil, along with biodynamic farming, rigorous work all year long, manual harvesting and low yields, allow for the making of elegant, delicate and beautiful wines with unparalleled balance and freshness.
Domaine de Veilloux
Domaine de Veilloux is a small estate near Cheverny, a quiet part of the Eastern Touraine in the Loire Valley. The estate has been family-owned since the French Revolution, and six generations of the Quenioux family have worked the land. Almost 30 years ago, Michel Quenioux and his wife Sylviane took the reins, and have transformed the estate into an archetype for organic and biodynamic farming in the region. Michel, a firm believer in the health and environmental benefits of clean agriculture, implemented these practices from the start and has spent more than two decades as a spokesman for organic winemaking and the Cheverny region.
Domaine du Peyrou
Thanks, in part, to the harsh realities of global warming, Jordi Perez of Le Casot des Mailloles now spends half his time producing wine under Domaine du Peyrou, in slightly cooler climes back where he grew up in Gers, South West France.