Domaine De La Tour Brune - Emilie Tourrette Brunet
After several years in China and the discovery of wines
living in Hong Kong, I come back to France to change
professional environment and train myself in viticulture with
winemakers involved in natural wines. I then need
regain contact with nature, act to preserve
our biodiversity, restore our soils and change
temporality, by rediscovering long time.
In 2017, with a few acres of old vines in our pocket
(gamay, chenin, cabernet franc and pineau d´aunis), I found
the Brown Tower. From the start, I apply a la
more respectful of the environment and biodiversity
possible. Ecocert follows me for certification in agriculture
biological, I follow the principles of biological dynamics and
care by plants to help the vines as much as possible
in their transition and help them best express their
potential (these are old vines on shale).
In 2020, I will expand with a plot of more than one
hectare of cabernet franc and chenin planted in 1959. The
first plots located in the town of Chalonnes
are small in size and bordered by hedges, groves,
tadpole trees. The last one in the town of Val
du Layon is in one piece, with only two angles
bordered by hedges. So I planted several dozen of
fruit trees in a global agroforestry project and in order to
limit the harmful effects of a monoculture.
I work these two hectares of vines alone, by hand,
without big machines and with a lot of elbow grease
to preserve my plots. In 2019, a few hens and
ducks came to strengthen the team by forming a bass
constantly running in the vineyards. 100% of my grapes
are cared for and harvested manually. In the cellar, I try
to be the least interventionist possible, do not use
inputs: the yeasts are indigenous and most
cuvées without added sulfur. To continue this path well
accompanied, I chose to join the Union of
defense of natural wines.