Winery ALÉOFANE

The Winery is called Aleofanein reference to John Macmillan Brown's imaginary island. Natacha Chave states: " In the Aleofan city, fermented drinks such as wine are considered rare, diabolical and yet healing goods: wine is prescribed by a doctor ". What is certain is that in France, it is not for tomorrow! Natacha knew that one day she would "make" wine like her parents.

The Chave family: passionate about wine

Before settling down, she decided to obtain her baccalaureate and then to study for a master's degree in the philosophy of language. Her brother, Yann Chave, took over Winery from his father Bernard Chave (Winery , a well-known company founded in 1970) in early 2000. For Natacha, this was the turning point. In 2003, she enrolled at the University of Wine in Suze-la-Rousse, then passed a diploma of Professional Agricultural Capacity (CPA) and finally did a few internships with various winegrowers to complete her initiation.

Organic wines that respect nature

In 2004, she bought 1.5 ha of vines in the Saint Joseph appellation in Tournon-sur-Rhône in the Rhône Valley.

In 2007, she found 40-year-old vines on the Crozes-Hermitage in the Chassis plain, (commune of Beaumont-Monteux), plants a few vines and owns 5 ha on Crôzes Hermitage, i.e. a Winery of 6.5 ha. Natacha Chave is quickly willing to respecting nature, the soil and the grapes and to be the least interventionist in winemaking as in maturing: grassing of the inter-row, complete work of the soil according to the years to provoke or not a competition with the vine.

The biodynamic preparations of Winery Aléofane

Natacha also uses biodynamic preparations which act on the stimulation of the plant's natural defences and its balance. Natacha Chave makes her own manure (compost), 60 tons of it! She is particularly passionate about this work. In 2016, she was able to plant her own vines in Cornas (1st vintage in bottle in 2020)
She is part of an approach that requires a lot of work. The work continues in the vinifications: indigenous yeasts, no enzymes. The wines are unfiltered, unfined and low in sulphites. She put her heart into her work and in a very short time she found a large audience. A Winery and organic and biodynamic wines (certification)