Roue Libre

Region: Beaujolais
Grape: Gamay
Vineyard Size: 2 hectares
Soil: granite, volcanic
Average Age of Vines: 40 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole cluster, 10-day maceration, spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in stainless steel
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none

Hervé Ravera

Hervé Ravera is an excellent example of what has been described as a second career winemaker. Before he was a vigneron in the Beaujolais, he spent several years as a nurse, but he had always been drawn to nature and farming. In 2007, his interests outside of medicine became more and more consuming. He ultimately left nursing and bought an old house surrounded by 2 ha of old gamay vines in the tiny village of Marchampt in the Beaujolais.

Hervé works biodynamically and plows his steep slopes with the help of his horse (hilariously named “Reggae Nights”) The grapes are harvested with the help of friends and family and fermented whole cluster in concrete without any additives and then pressed via a massive, 100-year-old press in the winery that’s attached to the house.

In a world where the top wines of Beaujolais seem to be becoming more extracted and dense, Hervé’s wines have transparency and purity, while still maintaining the varietal character of gamay.

- Zev Rovine Selections