Domaine Houillon
VISIT THIS PRODUCER'S WEBSITE
VISIT IMPORTER'S WEBSITE
Country of Origin: France
Location: Vaucluse, Southern Rhône
People: Aurerlien & Charlotte Houillon, Owners & Winemakers
Viticulture: Practicing Organic
Items
Located in the sun-drenched Vaucluse at the foot of Mont Ventoux, natural winemakers Aurélien and Charlotte Houillon are crafting wild wines that possess both the depth and intensity of the southern Rhône. Originally from Franche-Comté, Aurélien met natural wine guru Pierre Overnoy as a child, later working with him for years in the Jura, as well as with his brother, Emmanuel Houillon.
Aurélien and Charlotte began their own project in 2017, farming 9 hectares of mostly rescued vines in Faucon at a notable rocky formation in safre called 'La Roche Coucourde', comprised of a highly regarded sandy-marl found in the southern Rhône Valley.
In Vaucluse, Aurélien and Charlotte have taken the same minimalist approach to winemaking and farming that have made the wines from Ovenoy so legendary (not to mention that other Houillon unicorn, Bruyere-Houillon!). They farm organically and without the use of pesticides, using fertilizer provided by their two trusty four-legged companions, Victoire and Castor (horse and donkey, respsectively). Aurélien applies the same minimalist method in the cellar, crafting his wines without any additives and bottling without filtration or additional sulfur.
A specialist in ancient manuscripts, Charlotte learned the traditional methods of paper making during her studies in China and Ethiopia. In a nod to just how artisanal and hand made this project is, some labels are made by hand from their own papyrus screened from scratch in the barn.