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A conviction. The adventure of the Jacques Frelin vineyards began with an idea rooted in one man’s mind. Now a flagship of organic viticulture, these estates feature on every wine tour worthy of the name.
A story of grapes and ladybugs
1983, at a time when the concept of “organic wine” was far from popular, one man defended it with fervor. Name? Jacques Frelin. From his many travels, the daredevil has retained a love of the Earth and, above all, a pressing desire to protect it. As he always likes to say: “Respect for the Earth and its inhabitants starts with us!
But don’t be fooled into thinking that Jacques Frelin is an austere character. A bon vivant, he enjoys being lulled by the tannins that graze his taste buds. In fact, he’s always dreamed of owning a winery…
In 1983, he took the plunge and created one of France’s first organic wineries. By this we mean that no chemicals or synthetic products are used throughout the production chain. No fertilizers, pesticides or flavour enhancers. The Jacques Frelin grapes ripen naturally and are then transformed into wine.
Alongside his ecological production, Jacques Frelin is committed to making organic wine more widespread. Co-founder of the “Millésime bio” trade show, he went on to become vice-president of SudVinBio, FranceVinBio and finally of the Union nationale interprofessionnelle de l’agrobiologie (UNIA).
Today, alongside his daughter, he continues his fight for a more environmentally-friendly wine. Spread over four terroirs (Languedoc-Roussillon, Rhône Valley and Provence, Val-de-Loire, Bordeaux and Gascony), the Jacques Frelin vineyards produce three million bottles a year.
Flavours that stay with you forever
Because wine is a beverage that reflects a terroir, the Jacques Frelin vineyards have chosen to highlight a number of localities in France. Ecocert certified, 100% organic, Jacques Frelin wines come from the following production areas:
Languedoc-Roussillon ;
Rhône Valley and Provence ;
Bordeaux and Gascony;
Val-de-Loire.
To date, 30 wines proudly bear the Jacques Frelin vineyard logo. Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), varietal wines, estate wines, châteaux, … With Jacques Frelin, discovery and satisfaction are always the order of the day.
Vineyards at the service of the vine
To the very end, Les vignobles Jacques Frelin remain true to their ideology. So they set up a system for collecting their old wine bottles.
Similarly, their “Hérissons malins” varietal wines are characterized by the use of 100% recyclable bottles. The absence of capsules, recyclable labels and biodegradable bottles mean that these wines blend in completely with nature after use.
Ecological vineyards, the craftsmen of the Jacques Frelin estates advocate organic methods from vine to bottle.
Photos: Jacques Frelin
Directeur artistique, Alfred Laurent est l'âme créative de la première place de marché direct producteur en France. Passionné de Beaujolais, de moto et de BD, il est toujours à l'affût de la nouvelle pépite !
