Hervé Villemade is a perfect microcosm of the movement towards organic farming and natural winemaking over the past 20 years. He took over his family’s farm and winery in 1995, and at first continued much... Read More

Hervé Villemade is a perfect microcosm of the movement towards organic farming and natural winemaking over the past 20 years. He took over his family’s farm and winery in 1995, and at first continued much the same as his father had with conventional farming and lab adjustment winemaking.

But after just a couple vintages he realized that the results he was getting were uninspiring. At the same time he encountered the wines of Marcel Lapierre and Thierry Puzelat, two godfathers of natural winemaking, and was inspired! He started by eliminating the use of sulphur, but quickly realized that to do that successfully he needed much healthier, cleaner fruit.

So in 2000 he converted everything to organic farming (he is now certified) and continued learning how to make the most pure, transparent and delicious wines possible. Hervé’s vines are in Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny, in the heart of the Loire Valley. He farms all of the local grapes, including Romorantin, Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay and Pinot Noir. At their best, and Herve’s are among the best, these are wines of joyous energy and freshness.