NICOLAS ARNOU

Champ-sur-Layon, Loire Valley

Nicolas Arnou makes natural wines in the tiny village of Champ-sur-Layon, in the heart of the Layon Valley to the south of Angers. The son of Loire Valley dairy farmers, Nicolas took a long path back home. After contemplating a leap for years, Nicolas eventually left his career behind, fully dedicated himself to the craft of natural wine, immersing himself in courses and stages with various winemakers. This culminated with spending a year as a stagiaire working under the tutelage of Jura icons Manu Houillon and Pierre Overnoy.

In 2018, Nicolas purchased a 19th century estate in the village of Champ-sur-Layon, known by its historic name, Clos de La Raimbaudière. The property includes 10 hectares of vineyard land - although it is estimated that roughly half of the vines are missing or need immediate replacing - as well as a sprawling historical cellar and attached farmhouse.

The restoration and elevation of both the vines and the cellar quickly became his life’s work, and is being carried out without compromise along the way. Although the vineyard was farmed organically for five years preceding Nicolas’ arrival, he has doubled down on a host of sustainable practices, employing various biodynamic practices, as well as planting fruit trees and various cover crops to encourage biodiversity. Important work in the vines and cellar is done according to moon cycles, including bottling and soutirage. In the cellar, nothing is left to compromise. No sulphur is added throughout the process, and all aspects of the winemaking is carried out by gravity.  

The result is a set of wines that are at once wild as they are intentional. These are wines one can enjoy with or without reflection, but for those who wish to look deeper, there is a clear level of craftsmanship and purpose behind every bottle.