La Coulée de Serrant, in Savennières, the Loire, is home to a long, complex history. The Anglo-French war of 1214 occurred on this very soil, and owner Nicolas Joly still frequently finds ancient artefacts on the property that date back even to the Celts. Walking here feels like taking a step back in time; as though history lives on through the vegetation.
It is not only due to its complex history that this domaine is so significant. Nicolas Joly, the man at the helm of the domaine, has been one of our current era’s most notable figures in the quest to return to a greener form of viticulture. He was one of the first people to embrace the biodynamic approach for viticulture, a task that was somewhat lonely at the time. Yet slowly but surely, he succeeded in demonstrating the benefits of biodynamics both with regards to farming, and with regards to creating delicious wine that is true to its terroir. Nicolas formed La Renaissance des Appellations to provide consumers the chance to discover biodynamic wines, and to enable growers to share knowledge and ideas with one another.
In our documentary with Nicolas Joly, we delve into the domaine’s history, what it means to work biodynamically, and why he feels that safeguarding the inherent nature of the appellation system is of critical importance in an ever-industrial era.
Written By Christina Rasmussen