France | French Natural Wine
France is known as a pioneer in both winemaking and the natural wine movement, and is known for wines made of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Chenin Blanc. Popular natural wine producers in France include Pierre Overnoy, Patrick Bouju, and Frederic Cossard.
€21,98
Montagne de Strass Blanc 2020
Domaine des Trouillères
Chardonnay from Auvergne
€29,31 per litre
€87,25
Le Sage Vagnin 2022 (one per order)
Philippe Chatillon
OMG... this wine is insane!
€116,33 per litre
€54,25
La Grande Chaude 2021 (one per order)
Philippe Chatillon
Four Jura Grape Combo
€72,33 per litre
€54,25
La Grande Chaude 2022 (one per order)
Philippe Chatillon
Four Jura Grape Combo
€72,33 per litre
€78,25
Les Nouvelles 2016 (oxidative)
Philippe Chatillon
Oxidative with 5 years in barrel
€104,33 per litre
€35,25
Crémant Brut Nature, Levures Indigènes 2020
Domaine de la Touraize
SPECIAL! 2nd fermentation with indigenous yeasts, very difficult!
€47,00 per litre
€46,25
Gibus Trousseau 2022
Les Bottes Rouge
Earthy with cranberry & rosemary notes
€61,67 per litre
€49,25
Face B Savagnin Ouillé 2022
Les Bottes Rouge
Chalky, Salty, Limes & Candied Lemon
€65,67 per litre
€45,25
Savagnin En Bois d'Arnaux (maceration) 2020
Les Pieds sur Terre (Valentin Morel)
Orange Savagnin!
€60,33 per litre
€36,25
Albinois 2022
Les Pieds sur Terre (Valentin Morel)
Direct press of Poulsard, so a white!
€48,33 per litre
€44,25
Trousseau Les Trouillots 2023
Les Pieds sur Terre (Valentin Morel)
Trousseau from 40 year old vines
€59,00 per litre
€32,05
Extra Brut (half size)
Rémi Leroy Champagne
Interestingly, this year a slight Rosé
€85,47 per litre
€46,25
Savagnin Sous Voile Oxydatif 2019
Domaine de la Touraize
Nutty with Curry Powder touches!
€61,67 per litre
€35,25
Cotes a Cotes 2022
Domaine de la Touraize
Carbonic Pinot & Trousseau in Amphora!
€47,00 per litre
€36,25
Les Corvées 2022
Domaine de la Touraize
Reductive Smokeyness + Prunes & Pepper
€48,33 per litre
€78,25
Puzzle (ONE PER ORDER)
Ruppert Leroy Champagne
Zero Zero. 70% Chard. 30% Pinot
€104,33 per litre
A pioneer in natural winemaking
The natural wine movement began in France as a push-back to chemical agriculture, but took off to evolve into so much more. Responsible for much of this was the so-called “Gang of Four”, a group of four Beaujolais winemakers (Jean-Foillard, Guy Breton, Jean-Paul Thévenet, and Marcel Lapierre) who in the 1970s committed to farming without the use of pesticides, adding minimal-to-no sulfur, harvesting grapes later, sorting grapes for quality control, and refusing to add to sugar to fermenting wine (this was commonplace to boost alcohol content), all of which were rather contrary to what other French winemakers were doing at the time.
In 2020, France was the first country to approve an official label for naturally produced wines - wines packaged with “"Vin Méthode Nature" must be made from chemical-free grapes, handpicked, fermented with native yeast, and only a small amount of sulfur dioxide can be added (with the final wine containing less than 30 milligrams per liter).
In 2020, France was the first country to approve an official label for naturally produced wines - wines packaged with “"Vin Méthode Nature" must be made from chemical-free grapes, handpicked, fermented with native yeast, and only a small amount of sulfur dioxide can be added (with the final wine containing less than 30 milligrams per liter).
Popular French regions & producers
In northern France, white wines dominate with popular regions including Champagne (known of course for its sparkling wines, primarily from Chardonnay) and Alsace (which produces many herbaceous whites like Riesling and Gewürztraminer).
Jura, a tiny region on the Swiss border with a smaller yield, is famed for its unusual and distinct winemaking practices and use of the grapes Savagnin,Trousseau, Ploussard, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
In central France, the Loire Valley is known for grapes Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc, while Beaujolais produces nearly all Gamay wines.
Some of the best French Natural Wine Producers include:
• Jean-Pierre Robinot
• Patrick Bouju
• Matassa
• Jean-Foillard
• Tony Bornard
• L’Octavin
• Frederic Cossard
• Pierre Overnoy
• Pierre Frick
• Dard et Ribo
Jura, a tiny region on the Swiss border with a smaller yield, is famed for its unusual and distinct winemaking practices and use of the grapes Savagnin,Trousseau, Ploussard, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
In central France, the Loire Valley is known for grapes Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc, while Beaujolais produces nearly all Gamay wines.
Some of the best French Natural Wine Producers include:
• Jean-Pierre Robinot
• Patrick Bouju
• Matassa
• Jean-Foillard
• Tony Bornard
• L’Octavin
• Frederic Cossard
• Pierre Overnoy
• Pierre Frick
• Dard et Ribo