Les Jardins de Theseiis

Before becoming winemakers, Anouk Lavoie-Lamoureux and Paul-André Risse were both trained biologists and researchers in the field of respiratory diseases. Disappointed by the research system and wanting to work more closely with living organisms, they left that career path in 2012 to pursue wine, a shared passion. They then enrolled in the Vinifera International Master’s Program in Viticulture and Winemaking, spending their first year at Montpellier SupAgro (2012–2013) followed by a second year at the University of Turin in Italy, where they studied, among other things, soil science and terroir characterization. Anouk specialized in vine physiology, while Paul-André focused on the microbiology of indigenous yeasts.

Their training was complemented by memorable encounters, notably with Lydia and Claude Bourguignon, as well as visits to Château Palmer and the Ferme de la Sansonnière, which reinforced their desire to one day take over a small estate to farm organically and biodynamically. The opportunity arose in October 2016: after tasting a wine by Bruno Allion by chance, they got in touch with this winemaker from Domaine de Pontcher in Thésée, in the Loir-et-Cher department—a pioneer of natural wine in the Cher Valley who has been cultivating his vines biodynamically since 1997.