A fresh, low-alcohol Alpine red with juicy raspberries, tart cherries, and a good dose of peppery spice. There's an appealing wildness to the fruit, with silky tannins and a little earthy character underneath. At just 9.5% alcohol, it's easy to drink, but there's still plenty of flavor and texture. Unfined, unfiltered, and zero added sulfites.
Axel Domont
Before becoming a winemaker in Savoie, Axel Domont spent seven years racing professionally for AG2R La Mondiale, competing in the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España. Originally from the Drôme, Axel discovered Savoie through cycling, having moved to Chambéry to join AG2R's development program. Over time, the mountains and vineyards that surrounded his training routes became more than scenery. He developed a fascination with wine, particularly the traditional Alpine varieties grown in the region. What began as a curiosity eventually became a second career.
During his racing years, Axel became close with fellow cyclist Clément Chevrier, a Beaujolais native whose enthusiasm for wine helped deepen his own interest. The two spent their time away from racing exploring different regions, tasting wines, and getting to know the people who made them. Axel eventually befriended Nicolas and Marielle Ferrand of Domaine des Côtes Rousses in Savoie, as well as Caroline and Alexandre Bain in Pouilly-Fumé. These friendships introduced him to a different way of thinking about wine, one rooted in organic farming, patience, and the freedom to make wines without unnecessary intervention.
A serious injury during the 2018 Tour de France left Axel bedridden for an extended period. Rather than sit around waiting to recover, he enrolled in a viticulture and oenology program, putting his unexpected time off to use. By 2020, with professional cycling increasingly difficult on his body, he was already thinking seriously about making wine. During the COVID lockdown, Nicolas Ferrand offered him space and equipment in his cellar, giving Axel the opportunity to experiment with his first fermentations. His final professional race came later that year at the Vuelta a España, where another crash brought his cycling career to an end.
With racing behind him, Axel threw himself into winemaking. His first commercial vintage arrived in 2021, made from organically farmed grapes purchased from neighboring growers while he continued learning alongside Nicolas and Marielle. He eventually established his own cellar in Les Marches, at the foot of Mont Granier, and began farming vineyards of his own. Today, he works approximately three hectares of vines, along with fruit purchased from a small group of growers who share his commitment to organic agriculture.
Axel's farming is built around a straightforward idea: take care of the land and avoid doing anything that compromises the health of the vines or the surrounding environment. Much of the vineyard work is done by hand, with close attention to soil health, biodiversity, and the needs of each parcel. He works primarily with Jacquère, Roussette, Mondeuse, Gamay, and Pinot Noir, varieties that have long been part of Savoie's winemaking history. The vineyards sit on limestone-rich soils shaped by the region's glacial past, with the surrounding mountains exerting a strong influence on the growing season.
In the cellar, Axel works with indigenous yeasts and avoids filtration and fining. Depending on the cuvée, aging takes place in large oak barrels, tanks, or clay vessels. He generally avoids additions, although some wines receive a very small amount of sulfur when necessary. His goal is to make wines that retain the character of their grapes and vineyards, without trying to force them into a particular style.
Cycling is still part of Axel's identity, and a few of his wines carry names that nod to his former career. Kilomètre 0 references the official starting point of a race, while Flamme Rouge takes its name from the red flag marking the final kilometer. It's a fitting connection between two demanding pursuits that require endurance, discipline, and a willingness to keep learning.
