Sans soufre is a French term used to indicate that a winemaker has not used sulphur during the winemaking process. It is a very natural way of making wine that, in recent years, has seen a rise in popularity. With increased organic and biodynamic grape growing practices worldwide, more and more winemakers are making conscious decisions in the cellar to reflect these more natural approaches in the vineyards and during the winemaking process. Sulphur is usually added to wine because it acts as a preservative to prevent oxidation and gives the wine more long-term ageability. With that being said, wines that don’t receive sulphur at bottling retain a liveliness and energy that is not often seen in wines that are bottled with sulphur.

The Marionnet family has owned Domaine de la Charmoise since 1850, but it was Henry Marionnet who brought the estate to fame. He is widely respected and recognized around the world as a top producer in the Touraine appellation of the Loire Valley, and recently, Henry has been able to pass along this legacy to his son. Jean Sébastien worked alongside his father since as early as ten years old, so for him, the transition was not difficult. In fact, Jean-Sébastien has gracefully stepped into his father’s footsteps and continued growing the vines free of chemicals and making the wines in as natural a way as possible. While they do not bottle all of their wines without sulphur, they pay careful attention to what each wine needs during the winemaking process. The Première Vendange is a special bottling that both Henry and Jean-Sébastien felt deserved the kind of purity that can only be achieved without sulphur. The terroir of the old Gamay vines from which this wine is made is incredible; flint clay with varying silica and gravel soils contribute depth and texture, while the continental climate of the eastern edge of the Touraine, in addition to high elevation, helps this wine maintain acidity while still exhibiting rich flavor and body. The 2013 Première Vendange is phenomenal, and if you have never had the chance to enjoy a truly incredible wine that is made without sulphur, this is one of the highest quality opportunities you will get. Once you taste this wine, you will understand the liveliness and energy that I am talking about. For me, sipping on a wine like this is pure joy, and I am very excited to invite you to this experience.