October 31, 2024 - 0 comments
Meet Tiphaine Pierlot and Corentin Le Bolloch from Domaine Autre Chose!
In 2019, Corentin Le Bolloch started a one-hectare vineyard in Anjou, which he named “Les P’tites Choses”. Tiphaine Pierlot regularly helped Corentin in the vineyard. In 2022, she committed herself entirely to the project, and they renamed the estate “Autre chose”. Today, the property is 6 hectares with a house, and a stable turned into a cellar.
Although Corentin and Tiphaine do not come from a wine-growing background, the people were very welcoming to them. They were able to build on the support of local winemakers. They are now part of the local network, within the winegrowers' association “En joue connection”.
From graphic designer to winemaker: an atypical career path
Tiphaine first went to a design school in Paris and the Netherlands, before becoming a graphic designer specialising in wine. While working in this profession, Tiphaine was immediately drawn to the natural wine movement. According to her, there's a creativity that doesn't exist in conventional wine. The labels don't praise the châteaux, but have original artisanal logos and graphics that shake up the industry.
As a freelance designer of natural wine labels, Tiphaine wanted to get closer to the vines. In 2016, some friends invited her to come and harvest in Anjou. Since then, Tiphaine balances working behind a computer and in nature.
The moment Corentin created his business, Tiphaine realized how much she enjoys the world of wine and decided to go back to school and complete a BTS in viticulture and oenology.
The creative side of viticulture
When becoming a winegrower, Tiphaine expressed her desire to return to nature. Formerly a city dweller, settling in Anjou was a project that redefined her lifestyle. Yet she finds links between her former profession as a graphic designer and that of a wine maker. She states that creativity plays a big role in the making of a wine. The aim is to obtain the best possible material. And the possibilities are endless, with recipes constantly evolving.
The “Maintenant” cuvée reflects this artistic process. It is the result of a series of experiments, attempts and research to find the right balance between Gamay and Cabernet Franc.
Graphic design, a tool for creating a unique identity
Tiphaine and Corentin have chosen to emancipate themselves from the appellation system. So all their wines are “Vins de France”. This gives them the freedom not only to create their own wines, but also to express themselves freely on their labels, without feeling obliged to follow the standards.
Tiphaine uses her labels to emphasize the link between wine and the earth, through color and material effects. A circle is often found on her labels, a sort of symbol of the planet, evoking the idea of a whole, of unity. It refers to the family, to human beings coming together.
