Christian LERICQ and Colette BARRIER. We are natural wine growers. We produce Saint Joseph, and wines from France, on an area of 4.5 ha. We do not add any chemical inputs to the soil, to the vines, or to our wines. We have been vinifying our grapes for 25 years, out of passion. In 2016, we had the opportunity to expand our area. So we created La ferme de l’Arbre. We also have a small apiary.
For the moment, we produce red wines, from the Syrah grape variety. Our plots are mainly in the commune of Tournon sur Rhône. We also have a plot in the town of Sècheras. They are located on hillsides, entirely in small terraces and low walls, mainly on granite soil, and a little loess on one plot. They are located in the Protected Designation of Origin “Saint Joseph” area. Part of our plot loses the appellation in 2021, following the revision of the Appellation area by the INAO, in 1986. We take this as an opportunity to create different cuvées, in vin de France, allowing us to expand the range.
We work the soil with a winch, a pickaxe and a tiller. We feed them compost and manure.
We accompany the vines with sprays of herbal teas and nettle manure, depending on the climate (heavy rain in 2021, water stress in 2022) in addition to treatment with sulfur and a little copper at a very very low dose.
The grapes are harvested by hand, put in vats, in whole bunches. Vinification is carried out at room temperature, with as few interventions as possible, and without any artifice. No filtration or sticking. See details for each cuvée below. Bottling takes place before the next harvest.
Other details:
- At the request of our customers, we have applied for AB certification since this year 2020, even if we have always worked with the greatest respect for nature.
- In 2023 or maybe 2024.... we want to work with a bottle washing company "My bottle is called back" in Chabeuil, in the Drôme. We hope that the bottles of the 2022 or 2023 vintage... will be stamped "washable bottle". They can be dropped off at collection points, throughout France, to be washed and reused. That's 33% less water use than recycling.
Natural winemakers, here's the information we need to register you on Raisin.
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR DOMAINE
Please provide the information about your estate including location, size, treatments used,
horses, tractors, harvests, etc. within 300-500 characters. This description will be added to your profile.
CERTIFICATIONS (ORGANIC, BIODYNAMIC) :
Please send us all certifications (organic, biodynamic, etc.). If your estate is not certified,
please explain why and describe your farming practices.
INFORMATION ON EACH OF THE WINES YOU PRODUCE:
wine name
color
grape variety(ies) by year(s)
appellation
sparkling
label photo (.pdf format - printer's proof)
volume of free and total sulfur
analysis of each vintage
Is your wine from Négociant activities?
PHOTOS :
a photo of you (the winemaker)
photos of the winery and cellar (between 6 and 12)