François Saint-Lô
François Saint-Lô is a cult winemaker in the Loire valley, making vibrant and energetic wines such as Les Palenas and Hey Gros! with typical grapes like Cabernet Franc, Grolleau, Chenin Blanc and Pineau d'Aunis.
Farming just 4.5 Hectares, the wines of François Saint-Lô can be hard to find so grab them while you can - they taste fantastic!
The village of Berrie, where he works is located close to Saumur. Sporting dreadlocks and a relaxed attitude, he is seemingly part of a collective that is restoring life to an otherwise ghost village. His zero-zero wines have become a big hit in the natural wine scene, and often sell out fast.
François mostly rents his vineyards, but tend to them all himself, with the help of two horses. He works in a limestone cellar, traditional to the region and keeping the climate very stable. He prefers long elevage, allowing the wine to really sit and develop more complexities with wines often aging 3 years in barrel.