Located between Lyon and Mâcon in the Beaujolais wine region Founded in 1868, the estate covers about 7 hectares of historic vineyards that were originally part of Burgundy. The vineyards were acquired by Bernard Vallette’s ancestors 150 years ago from the Marquis de La Guiche. Bernard carefully farmes the land passed down through generations, honoring the legacy of his grandparents and preserving the family’s deep connection to the region.
Bernard Vallette is a devoted practitioner of biodynamics, deeply attuned to the holistic rhythms of the universe. This connection is elegantly represented on his business card, which features the seven chakras alongside a spiral that echoes the golden ratio. His commitment to natural processes is reflected in his wines, particularly in the whimsically named Quatre Saisons, which adheres to a strict non-interventionist regimen, qualifying it as a “natural” wine. His sparkling rosé, Née Bulleuse—French for “born bubbling”—evokes both earthly and astral clouds, while playing on the homophonic French word word nébuleuse.
Vallette’s viticulture is deeply rooted in organic and biodynamic principles, emphasizing sustainability and minimal intervention. He rejects synthetic chemicals and fertilizers, rather embracing biodynamic treatments and infusions, and the alignment of his vineyards with lunar and cosmic rhythms. Vallette’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond the vine itself: it encompasses a broader ecological perspective, including maintaining biodiversity with grass and wildflowers between vine rows to support a thriving ecosystem.
Bernard Vallette vinifies his wines with a clear commitment to natural winemaking, utilizing techniques that allow the region’s distinctive terroir and the character of the grapes to shine through. He employs whole cluster fermentation, carbonic maceration, and indigenous yeasts. He eschews fining and filtration, and avoids the use of sulfites to the maximum extent possible.
Domaine Bernard Vallette manifests a dedication to authenticity and environmental stewardship. Vallette wines are truly organic in the broadest sense of the term, fully expressive of the terroir, and completely reflective of a profound respect for the natural world.
