# Le Vin de Jardin (2025)

- **Producer:** Domaine La Grange aux Belles
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Grolleau Noir
- **Region:** Loire, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 11.0%
- **Average price:** €14
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 12–14 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** strawberry, raspberry, redcurrant, violet, white pepper

## About this wine

Domaine La Grange aux Belles was founded in 2004 in the Anjou region of the Loire Valley by Marc Houtin, who changed careers from the petroleum industry to pursue winemaking. In 2014, the estate famously gave up its official AOC Anjou designation to protest chemical-tolerant regional policies and rigid regulations, reclassifying all wines as Vin de France to protect their organic and natural philosophy. Le Vin de Jardin is created as an effortless vin de copains aimed at easy, joyful drinking while showcasing 100% Grolleau Noir.

## Interesting facts

- The domain walked away from the official AOC Anjou designation in 2014 to maintain strict organic winemaking freedom.
- Founder Marc Houtin abandoned a petroleum industry career to study enology and interned at Château d'Yquem.
- Elevates Grolleau Noir—traditionally restricted to rosé or minor blending—into a vibrant, pure single-varietal red.

## Food pairing

The light body, delicate low tannins, and vibrant acidity of Grolleau pair exceptionally well with lighter meats, pork, poultry, and charcuterie. High-fat or heavily tannic dishes can overpower the subtle crunchy red fruit aromatics, while intense chili heat clashes with the high natural acidity.

## Wine making process

Harvested manually in small 20 kg crates from certified organic and biodynamically farmed old vines grown on schist and silt-sandy soils. Fermentation occurs spontaneously with 100% whole clusters and indigenous yeasts in fiberglass or concrete tanks, undergoing a 10-day semi-carbonic maceration. Free-run and press juices are combined and aged sur lie for six months in tank before bottling unfined, unfiltered, and with minimal to no added sulfites.