France · Loire · Faye D'Anjou

Benoit Courault started his wine career as a sommelier. His curiosity to understand what lies behind the bottles first led him to the Beaune wine school. During his school time he completed numerous internships, mainly in the Burgundy area. It was first after his studies his interest for biodynamic and natural wines sparked. This introduced him to a legend in the natural wine scene, Eric Pfifferling at Domaine de l’Anglore. It was at Eric’s terroir and cellar that he understood the world of natural wine.
After three years spent at Domaine de L’Anglore in Tavel, Benoit decided to start his own adventure and bought a 6-hectare estate with his wife in Faye d'Anjou, in the Loire. From the beginning, he practiced biodynamics and organic farming, with a lot of work around herbal teas, infusions, macerations, etc. The vineyards are worked by horse. The soil at Benoît is representative of this little corner of Anjou: the majority of its vines are rooted on schist soil. He lives with his wife, kids and horses in the middle of the vines.

Benoit Courault cultivates the classic Anjou grape varieties: Chenin, Grolleau Noir, Cabernet Franc and Pineau d'Aunis.

In the cellar, the reds are put into vats in whole bunches then lightly crushed underfoot. The alcoholic fermentation then takes place in old barrels. For the whites, the pressing is quite long, the juice is then put into barrels, sometimes in tons.