Les Horées is a boutique winery situated in Burgundy founded in 2019 by Catharina Sadde, a German-born winemaker, and her French husband, Guilhem Sadde. The domaine covers 1.3 hectares of vineyards, including some recently planted Chardonnay in Pommard and Puligny. Catharina is waiting for these young vines to bear fruit in the future. Additionally, the domaine purchases fruit from the Côte d’Or and Macon to supplement its production.
Catharina and Guilhem bring a distinctive blend of German precision and French viticultural tradition to Les Horées. Catharina, originally a trained chef, found her passion for wine after a harvest in the Nahe region of Germany. She studied oenology and viticulture in Montpellier and at the University of Geisenheim, gaining extensive experience through internships and work at Romanée-Conti, Comte Armand, Marquis d’Angerville, Drouhin, and Vogüe.
Les Horées practices biodynamic farming, which serves as both a farming method and a source of inspiration. Biodynamic treatments are applied throughout the year, and the vineyards are pruned using the Guyot-Poussard method to respect sap flow. Aromatic plants, roses, bushes, hedges, and trees are planted among the vines to enhance biodiversity. Ploughing is minimized, and green cover crops are used to fertilize and decompact the soil, manage water competition, and limit spontaneous weeds.
In the winery, indigenous yeast fermentation, careful maceration, and aging in French oak barrels are standard practices. The first two vintages, 2019 and 2020, were vinified in a small, charming cellar in Pommard. In 2021, Les Horées acquired a larger cellar in Beaune, allowing for expanded production and improved working conditions.
Les Horées is named after the Greek goddesses of the seasons, the Horae, symbolizing the celebration of seasonal changes. The estate’s philosophy is to create wines that are true to their place of origin, emphasizing sustainability and natural winemaking practices.
