Terroirs Originels, France
For more than twenty five years, Terroirs Originels has stood as one of the most distinctive alliances in the Beaujolais, Mâconnais, and Monts du Lyonnais regions, united by a shared commitment to heritage, independence, and the craft of honest, terroir driven winegrowing. Formed in the late 1990s by six friends and winemakers, the group emerged from a simple but ambitious goal: to allow artisan winemakers to stay close to their vines and dedicate themselves to the hands on work required to produce wines of true character. At a time when consolidation and commercialization were reshaping the wine world, Terroirs Originels offered an alternative vision rooted in authenticity and human connection.
What began as a small circle has since expanded into a vibrant community of more than forty five independent producers. Each member farms and vinifies their own fruit, an approach that, while seemingly traditional, is far from universal in the region today. This model ensures that every wine reflects the personality, decisions, and expertise of its creator rather than being shaped by cooperative or industrial processes. The diversity within the alliance is significant, but the core philosophy remains shared: respect for nature, deep understanding of one’s land, and a commitment to sustainable, often organic, farming.
Old vines stand at the heart of the group's identity. Many of the vineyards stewarded by Terroirs Originels members exceed half a century in age, and some surpass a remarkable 120 years. These ancient plants, rooted in the granite rich soils emblematic of Beaujolais and its neighboring appellations, produce fruit with uncommon concentration and elegance. Members such as Yohan Lardy, who works with vines planted in 1903 in the high slopes of Moulin à Vent, or Lionel Després, who cultivates steep Fleurie and Chiroubles parcels averaging 45 years of age, exemplify the careful and often strenuous work required to preserve such living heritage. Others include the Bourdon family, seven generations established in Fleurie, Moulin à Vent, and Beaujolais Villages, and Domaine Olivier Pezenneau, whose holdings include Morgon and Brouilly parcels dating back to 1934. These producers continue the legacy of stewardship passed down through families and decades.
More examples can be found across the alliance, including Nicolas Boudeau tending Brouilly vines from 1931 and 1957, and Frédéric Sornin, a pioneer of organic viticulture in the region who has guided fellow growers toward more responsible practices. These individual stories demonstrate the collective strength of Terroirs Originels, a group in which independence does not isolate but instead empowers members to uphold common values.
Over time, the alliance has broadened its reach, now including sustainable and organic certified wines from Burgundy alongside its Beaujolais and Mâconnais origins. Yet its mission has remained steady: to protect history, support the next generation, and keep alive the skills and traditions essential to the identity of their terroirs.
Today, Terroirs Originels stands not merely as a consortium of producers but as a guardian of regional heritage. Through collaboration rooted in independence, the group continues to champion wines that speak honestly of the land and the people who devote their lives to it.
