Christian Venier

(Loire, France) 

Located in the eastern section of Touraine, in Cheverny at the corner of Sologne south of Bois, is situated Christian Venier. It is here that he honed his natural winemaking skills under his cousin Theirry & Jean-Marie Puzelat of Clos du Tue Boeuf. After spending seasons assisting with harvests over the years, it wasn’t until the mid-90s that he produced his first vintage “Brin de Chevre” while simultaneously enrolling in the viticultural school of Amboise where he found the student body was ignorant of organic farming practices. All the while he kept to his philosophy of making wine naturally, bucking the trend that had taken the country by storm after the first World War who opted for mechanization. Christian remained a farmer akin to his ancestors, farming with the land organically his approximately 6 hectares of vineyards, planted with Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Pineau d’Aunis, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Menu Pineau and Chenin Blanc grown on a variety of silica and clay, some with gravel and stones. Christian remains a staunch non-interventionist with regards to his wines allowing natural fermentation, under a loose fitting cap, to occur while making use of resin-fiberglass, stainless steel, cement and oak, all in large format and never with additions or subtractions. His aim is to create wines with minerality and structure, while maintaining the natural feel of the wine that the vine itself provides. He is a man who makes wine for pleasure, and around whom it is a pleasure to be.

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Cheverny Rouge, ‘Les Hauts de Madon’

70% Pinot Noir, 30% Gamay

Hand-harvested from 17 year old vines planted to 40ha of flinty clay with rocky subsoils, on Christian’s higher vineyard site called ‘Les Hauts de Madon.’ Semi-carbonic maceration with whole bunches, followed by spontaneous fermentation using natural yeast in a cement and resin tank with low temperature control. Bottled unfiltered with no SO2.

Cheverny Rouge, Le Clos des Carteries

70% Gamay, 30% Pinot Noir

From 20-40 year old grapes hand-selected from 40ha of a parcel named "Le Clos des Carteries" vineyard, which has mostly soils of sand, silex and clay. Semi-carbonic maceration with whole-clusters followed by spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts. The entire process begins in cement and is then moved to a tank to settle and age on lees before being bottled with no SO2.


Cheverny Rouge, 'La Pierre aux Chiens'

100% Pinot Noir

Hand harvested selectively from 30 year old vines from the plot named ‘La Pierre aux Chines’, which totals 30ha of fine flinty clay and sand soils. Spontaneous fermentation with whole-cluster with natural yeasts. The wine completes semi-carbonic maceration in a combination of steel and resin tanks. Aging takes place on the fine lees in vats and barrels (50/50) and then bottled without SO2.