Moulin de Rameau

Who is Le Moulin?

A place steeped in history, nestled in the green Cher Valley. We've been fortunate enough to live here since 2021 and work hard to make our dreams a reality! At the confluence of three departments (Creuse, Allier, and Puy-de-Dôme) and two regions (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Nouvelle-Aquitaine), the Moulin de Rameau is not only a very old watermill (dating back to before 1789) but was also a historic hub of community life (a renowned and generous local restaurant!). There's so much life, sharing, and work in this place… we're eager to live up to its legacy, breathe new life into it, and pay tribute to those who came before us!

Who is the craftsman in this place?

Sébastien grew up in the Vendée region of France, in a family of true country folk. At 18, he left the family farm to study thermal and energy engineering in a high-level sports program (rugby) at INSA, a school located near Lyon. After a long course of study, he had the opportunity to complete and validate his doctorate in collaboration with Eurocave. This allowed him, in addition to enjoying a glass of wine in the evenings, to gain a solid foothold in the wonderful and complex world of wine. At 30, Sébastien re-evaluated everything, listened to his deepest desires, and embarked on a career change. During a two-year technical degree in viticulture and oenology, he combined theoretical learning with the discovery of several estates and different wine regions (Burgundy: Domaine LEFLAIVE Puligny-Montrachet; Beaujolais: Domaine ALONSO; Puy-de-Dôme: Domaine NO CONTROL).

Instinctively, he is drawn to human-scale winemaking techniques, with minimal mechanical intervention, in harmony with nature's cycles, respectful of the grapes, the environment, and our own bodies! He will be captivated by the honesty of natural wines. He has therefore settled at the Moulin with the firm intention of creating wines more authentic than nature itself! He also confides that this adventure can fully come to life thanks to the support and assistance provided by Nawal…

What happens when the two are combined?

Sébastien had a strong desire to make natural wine in the Creuse region, as you might have guessed! While waiting to plant his own vines on the hillside land at Le Moulin, he sourced excellent grapes, 90% of which were very local (from Combronde in the Puy-de-Dôme department and Saint-Pourçain in the Allier department), and all organic or in their final year of organic conversion. The remaining 10% came from Beaujolais, where he maintains a close, almost filial, relationship with his first mentor in natural winemaking! In 2022, several cuvées were born (sparkling, red, rosé, and white). All of them are unfiltered and contain no additives or added sulfites.