Sebastien Riffault

Sébastien Riffault took over the vineyard from his father at the age of just 21. He started with a 2-acre plot because it was not common to follow organic or biodynamic practices in the Sancerre region of the Loire Valley. Soon after starting organic winemaking, he turned to biodynamics in 2004 and has been practicing it ever since. He makes do with two horses to plow the vineyards, which he often lends to neighbors.
What makes Sébastien's wines so special is that he starts the harvest much later than other winemakers. His goal is to present Sauvignon Blanc in its original, pure form - far from the conventional. He goes against all the rules of Sancerre: he lets the grapes overripe - thus they are affected by botrytis. This gives his wine a distinctive aroma that many experts would consider defective. He uses no sulphites, no fining or filtration in the cellar.