Maison Maenad

Originally from Canada, Katie Worobeck developed an interest in wine and organic farming whilst studying and after several years working amongst the vines in her native Ontario, she moved to France and landed a dream job working alongside the legendary Anne and Jean-François Ganevat in the Jura’s South.

After five years working alongside the Ganevats, Katie began looking after a parcel of old vines planted over clay and limestone in the Sud Revermont’s famed lieu-dit ‘Les Varrons’. Here she grows Chardonnay, along with a few rows of Gamay and old hybrids. She now tends a further three hectares of old vines planted over limestone and marl in a picturesque spot surrounded by forest high in the hills above Grusse, where all the Jurassic varieties are present.

In the vines her approach is to work alongside nature, farming organically with biodynamic principles and a real focus on soil health. She has begun planting trees and shrubs amongst the vines and hopes to rotate livestock amongst the parcels to promote diversity.

The wines are made in an old cave underneath her home and here she works with great attention to detail, in the hope of making wines with a purity that capture the beauty of each of the sites. Pressing is done manually, élevage takes place in old barrels of various sizes and any movement is done by gravity. The wines are bottled unfiltered, with no additions.

There is a lightness of touch which pervades Katie’s work, resulting in wines which even in the context of the Jura are delicate, fragrant and hauntingly beautiful.

De L'Avant 2022 - Chardonnay from forty year old vines planted over red clay and limestone in ‘Les Varrons’. The grapes were pressed directly in an old vertical press and moved by gravity into a combination of foudre and demi-muids for two years of élevage. From a warm, dry vintage, it is a dense, powerful and layered wine that pairs ripe stone fruits, minerals and spice to wonderful effect. Delicious now, it will reward drinkers for years to come.

About the 12-pack:

It’s always tricky to know what to do when we get such minuscule amounts of highly sought-after wines in stock. Most shops around the world mark these wines up to stupid high prices, but we don’t believe in being opportunistic just to make some extra bucks. And as much as we’d like to keep these and drink them ourselves, wine is for sharing.

So here’s what we’re going to do: We’ve created a mixed 12-pack which includes the noted bottle of De L'Avant 2022 from Maison Maenad at the correct price (cost x 1.5) + eleven bottles at an average price point, also at fair market value. Doing it this way ensures that we sell our release at fair market price and that the lucky recipients aren’t just swooping in for the unicorns without supporting the shop in a more meaningful way. Win/win 🤝

Nervous about receiving mystery bottles? Don’t be. We’ll reach out to each person that buys a mixed 12-pack to learn what they like and curate the additional 11 wines together. 

We’re stoked to offer Maison Maenad wines at a fair price and appreciate y’all trusting us to find you 11 additional bottles you’ll also love.

Have questions? Dm or text us!