Who will be the most sought-after new winemakers in the years to come? For some time now, in the once small world of natural wines, we have been witnessing the emergence of a number of new estates led by winemakers and Winemakers with rich and diverse profiles. To make sure you don't miss out on these new talents, follow the advice of Tom, our sommelier!
There are many talented winemakers in the world of natural wine in France! We are lucky to have a great diversity of vineyards, terroirs and/or grape varieties and therefore as many great wines that respect nature. Unless you scour the various wine fairs in France or spend a lot of time tasting, it is difficult to find new nuggets easily. We have therefore decided to make it much easier for you by introducing you directly to those we have greatly appreciated and on whom we will have to rely in 2022 and in the years to come. Passionate men and women, present in the 4 corners of France but also abroad! We are sure that in a few years these natural wines will be snapped up and you will be able to proudly say "I have known them for a while now" ! Let's get started!
Thomas Puéchavy - Loire Valley
Thomas Puéchavy was not at all predestined for a career as a winemaker. After a career as a musician in the Franco-American rock-folk group "Moriarty" for more than 15 years, Thomas embarks, to our great delight, on the adventure of wines we love: that of living wines! In 2016, he started and acquired 3 hectares of Chenin vines in the Vouvray appellation in the Loire Valley. He immediately began converting his vines toorganic farming and moving towards healthy, nature-friendly viticulture.
The opinion of Tom our sommelier: "Thomas works this magnificent Grape variety, the chenin and we are under the spell of the expression of the true chenin, worked with care expressing its terroir. The minerality and fruitiness are there! A sincere and healthy work, to be followed, natural wines to be discovered!"
Marie Séité / Winery des Passages : Rhône Valley
Marie Séité moved to Winery des Passages in 2017. She, too, changed her life and left Paris following an unfortunate event in her life. She returned to the Luberon (in the Rhône Valley), where she had bought a maison a few years earlier. She soon met and became friends with her neighbour Laura Aillaud. They both share a natural approach to vineyard management and winemaking.
The opinion of Tom our sommelier: "There is vitality, passion and a crazy energy in Marie Séité's wines. There is no doubt that she is a personality to follow as much for her passion as for the quality of the juices she tastes. Wines that make you want to bite into life.
Léo Dirringer - Alsace
After joining the family Winery (Ruhlmann Dirringer) in 2017, Léo Dirringer started, in parallel, a production of wine in "pure juice" (without added sulphite) at a low price.
The family Winery of 14 ha is located in Dambach-la-Ville, a few kilometres north of Colmar. The Winery has converted to organic farming since 2016 under the impetus of Léo. It was during his studies that he discovered natural wine and therefore decided to work his grapes in the most natural way possible. For several years, he has been using biodynamic practices in the vineyard and his wines are all without added sulphite! A real pleasure!
Winery des Frères - Loire Valley
Yes, Henri and Valentin are brothers! Having spent their youth in the Chinon region, they both turned to office jobs. But after a few years behind the computer, they both got fed up. A few years apart, they enrolled in a BTS in wine-making and gained experience with various winegrowers (Patrick Corbineau, Yvon Métras, Bernard Baudry). The two brothers finally settled together in 2019 in their native region: 11 hectares of vines in Beaumont-en-Véron, in the Chinon appellation. The vineyard is currently undergoing organic conversion, manual harvesting and parcel-based vinification without inputs!
Tom, our sommelier, says:"We fell under the spell of the wines of Winery des Frères and their expression of Cabernet Franc. Often criticized, this Grape variety shows its best side here: freshness of structure and crispness of fruit. The wines are already very enjoyable because of their fresh profiles, but let's not forget that we are in Chinon, and we are also looking forward to seeing how the wines evolve with a little bottle ageing ;)
Given the work done and the energy put into the wines, Winery has a bright future ahead of it.
Envinate - Spain
Envinate (literally "make your own wine") is above all a human story, the meeting of four personalities around wine: Roberto Santana, Alfonso Torrente, José Martínez and Laura Ramos. Driven by the desire to highlight the Spanish terroir as a whole, Winery Envinate offers pure and authentic wines. The wines are made from individual plots of land that reflect their terroir and their vintage. Their various vineyards are located in Galicia, Tenerife and Castilla la Mancha.
The opinion of Tom, our sommelier:"I love this wine project, the wines offered, although coming from very different regions and terroirs, have one thing in common: balance. Often marked by an important minerality, the wines of Envinate combine finesse and sapidity.
Still little known in France, they are already present on the tables of many starred restaurants and are the subject of rave reviews abroad. Don't delay!"
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