Natacha Chave, from Winery Aléofane, is a deserving woman, heiress of a great name who preferred independence to build her own history on the Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph appellations. Her wines have personality and character. Portrait.
Natasha Chave knew she would one day "make" wine like her parents. Before settling down, she decided to get her baccalaureate and then embarked on a master's degree in Philosophy of Language. Her brother, Yann Chave, took over her father Bernard Chave's Winery at the beginning of 2000. A Winery of great renown created in 1970 on the Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage appellations. For Natacha, this is the trigger. In 2003, she enrolled at the Wine University of Suze la Rousse, then obtained a diploma in Agricultural Professional Capacity (CPA). Finally, she did a few internships at various winegrowers to complete her initiation. In 2004, she bought 1.5ha of vines in the Saint Joseph appellation in Tournon-sur-Rhône.
In 2007, she found vines of about 40 years old on Crozes-Hermitage in the plain of Chassis, (commune of Beaumont-Monteux), planted a few vines and owns 5ha on Crozes Hermitage that is a Winery of 6.5ha. The Winery is called Aléofane, in reference to John Macmillan Brown's imaginary island. There we quote Natacha Chave: "In the city of Aléofane, fermented drinks, such as wine, are considered rare, diabolical and yet healing: wine is prescribed by a doctor. What is certain is that in our city, it is not for tomorrow!
Immediate desire to respect nature, the soil, the grapes and to be as hands-off as possible in the winemaking and maturing processes. Grassing of the inter-row, complete work of the soil depending on the year to provoke or not a competition with the vine. Natacha Chave also uses biodynamic preparations which act to stimulate the plant's natural defences and balance. Natacha Chave's approach requires a lot of work. The work continues in the vinifications: indigenous yeasts, no enzymes. The wines are not filtered, not fined and not very sulphured. She put her heart into her work and in a very short time she found a public. A Winery and natural wines to follow. With a name like that you can't disappoint!
