We are Paul-André Risse and Anouk Lavoie-Lamoureux. Biologists by training and researchers in the field of respiratory diseases, we left research in 2012, disillusioned with the system governing research and aware that this career was distancing us from our values. United by a shared passion for wine, we listened to our desire to work in harmony with nature and decided to become winemakers.

The conversion…

We were then fortunate enough to be accepted into the Vinifera International Master's program in Vine and Wine. We completed a winemaking internship at Domaine Ceretto, whose vineyards are cultivated biodynamically. During this time, we had the privilege of meeting Claude and Lydia Bourguignon, with whom we discussed the importance of soil health. Since then, biodiversity in soils and crops in general has been a cornerstone of our work philosophy.

A return to our roots…

After gaining some experience in winemaking and viticulture at conventional estates in Canada, we decided to return to Europe, where vines have been cultivated for centuries and express in their grapes all the subtleties we so appreciate. We wanted to work exclusively in organic viticulture, further exploring the principles of biodynamics. No more risks to our health, the health of our consumers, or the environmental pollution caused by synthetic pesticides. Working for committed estates such as Château Palmer and La Ferme de la Sansonnière (Mark Angeli and Bruno Ciofi), as well as other small organic estates in Anjou (49), solidified our desire to settle on a small plot of land and make terroir-driven wines, just like the ones we love to drink.

Love at first sight…

It was after a chance tasting of a bottle of Bruno n' Côt that we were put in touch with Bruno Allion of Domaine de Pontcher in Thésée (41) in October 2016. Bruno was looking for successors to take over his vineyard in anticipation of his retirement. A pioneer in his region, the Val de Cher, he vinifies some of the grapes he cultivates on 13 hectares of vines located on the finest terroirs around Thésée using natural methods. A very pleasant meeting that ended with a commitment to take over 4.9 hectares of vines and 1.6 hectares of land to plant in Thésée and Monthou-sur-Cher. Indeed, how could one not fall under the spell of these south-facing slopes sloping down towards the Cher River, overlooking the village church steeple? An authentic winery built for gravity-flow winemaking and traditional cellars carved into the tuffeau limestone guarantee the best possible aging conditions.

Superbly maintained vines, cultivated biodynamically since 1997, interspersed with fruit trees and small vegetable gardens, produce deep and distinctive wines, just as we wanted them! Having harvested and made the wines with Bruno in 2017, we are embarking, with the utmost respect, on continuing his work. A wonderful adventure begins in Les Jardins de Theseiis…

All our wines are made without sulfur, using indigenous yeasts, and are unfiltered. Aging in barrels in our troglodytic cellars is essential for us to achieve the quality and stability we seek in our wines.