- Les Athlètes du Vin is a négociant project focused on typical, value-driven wines from the Loire Valley. The idea was conceived by a group of French winemakers called Vini Be Good, who work together to distribute their wines across France. The wines are vinified by various members of the Vini Be Good network using their own grapes or grapes purchased from friends and neighbors in the Loire. We are proud to present these wines made by their friends and family, as several of the cuvées are vinified by Gérard Vallée, brother of Mathieu Vallée from Château Yvonne. This little-known grape is a hidden gem in the Loire valley. A native grape to the region and a true sponge of terroir. It has a reputation for being extremely finicky to grow and by the 1970s there were only 17 hectares of Pineau d'Aunis remaining in the Loire Valley! Recognizing the importance of preserving native varietals from extinction a few winemakers decided Pineau d'Aunis was worth the additional attention to grow.
The labels for Les Athlètes du Vin are drawings by French artist, illustrator, and cartoonist Michel Tolmer, who has been the unofficial lead artist of the French natural wine movement since the 1990s. packed with crunchy cherry fruit but showcases its savory side delivering waves of sage and black pepper. If you find yourself gravitating towards more youthful expressions of Beaujolais this will be right up your alley!