Grain d'L - Gaëlle Steunou

The vines I cultivate are vines that are approximately between 25 and 100 years old. They are in the commune of Roujan, in the Hérault, between Pezenas and Faugères: an island of four small plots (1.5 ha in total) in the middle of the garrigue.

Since 2023, this property has expanded to include 2.6 hectares of land where I planted 30 ares of Macabeu and Cinsault, followed by 60 ares of Terret Bourret, Grenache Gris, and Carignan Blanc. I also cultivate 16 ares of Grenache in Vailhan (a village of 170 inhabitants), where my winery is located. The soil in the plots is primarily schist. The vines are trained in the goblet style without trellising. I maintain permanent ground cover, and the flora and fauna create a rich biodiversity. The work is done almost exclusively by hand; a Renault 50 tractor has just arrived to assist with planting. Treatments (exclusively sulfur and copper in limited quantities) are applied with a backpack sprayer. Every winter, I host a shepherd and his flock of sheep for a week to graze and fertilize the vines. The grapes are harvested by hand and placed in crates. I have been established since 2016, at which time I immediately applied for Ecocert certification; the estate's wines have therefore been organic since 2019. My winery is located in Vailhan (34320). Winemaking equipment includes a vertical press, small stainless steel and fiberglass tanks, and a small bottling line where the wine is bottled by gravity. I practice winemaking without additives, adding only a very small amount of SO2 if there is a risk of the wine spoiling. I only carry out minimal interventions during vinification: punching down, pumping over, and racking.