The name means “deep down, it breathes”—and that’s exactly the feeling here. Fresh, aromatic, and full of movement, with juicy fruit, wildflowers, herbs, and a slightly salty mineral edge. There’s a quiet intensity to it, but nothing heavy or overworked. Pure, vibrant southern Rhône energy.
La Ferme du Pasteur
La Ferme du Pasteur is one of those young projects that immediately makes you stop and pay attention. From the very first vintage, Caroline Connolly and Rémy Kaneko showed a rare level of precision and sensitivity—especially with Grenache, a grape that can be incredibly expressive but equally easy to overdo. In their hands, it comes out bright, light, and full of energy.
The couple settled in Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues in 2021, just outside Nyons in the northern Rhône, taking over a small collection of vineyards near Rémy’s family’s olive farm. It’s a pretty perfect setting for their style: old vines, Mediterranean influence, and a landscape that naturally lends itself to wines with freshness and lift.
Rémy’s path to winemaking wasn’t traditional. A trained sculptor who spent years restoring historic frescoes around France, he also co-owned the Paris natural wine bar Chambre Noire before turning his focus fully to farming and fermentation. Caroline, originally from Richmond, Virginia—the hometown of Terroirizer—brings her own connection to food, wine, and hospitality to the project.
Together, they farm around two hectares of vines, including 85-year-old Grenache planted on clay-limestone soils covered with the famous galets roulés—the large rounded stones that define so much of the Rhône landscape. Younger vines sit just above the terrace on similar soils, giving the wines a beautiful mix of freshness, structure, and character.
In the cellar, the approach is simple: nothing unnecessary. Fermentations happen naturally, extraction is gentle, and the wines are made without oenological additives—including sulfur. The goal isn’t to force the grapes into a certain style, but to preserve what’s already there.
The result is Southern Rhône wine that feels completely alive. The Grenache is lifted rather than heavy, juicy rather than jammy, with bright fruit, herbs, and a subtle earthy depth. Fans of producers like Daniel Sage will immediately understand the appeal: wines with intensity, but no weight.
La Ferme du Pasteur may still be a young project, but the direction is already clear. These are thoughtful, energetic wines from two people who have followed a winding path to get here—and the excitement is well deserved.
