J. Mourat
Jérémie Mourat
About
Owner & winemaker: Jérémie Mourat
Vineyards: 170ha across 100 parcels, all estate-owned
Vineyard management: Farming organically since 2008, now incorporating some biodynamic practices
Soils: schist, rhyolite (volcanic rock), clay over schist
Grapes grown: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Negrette
Annual production: 1,500,000 bottles
Quick facts:
- The “Collection” line was created in 1992 in order to showcase the traditional grapes of the region. The unique bottle shape is modeled after a historic bottle found in an old cellar.
- “For me, being a winemaker is a bit like being a witness to time. With every bottle opened, we remember the vintages and its stories. Each vintage is a true surprise and one is never exactly like the others, that’s the magic of wine.” – Jérémie Mourat
It was in 1970 that Jean Mourat laid the foundations for a winery that would be respectful of the cultural heritage of the region while also oriented towards the future. His son Jérémie would join him nine years later to keep the adventure going. The Fiefs Vendéens appellation, which they call home, covers the majority of the Vallée du Lay in Vendée, at the intersection of three ecosystems (the Luçon Plain, the Poitevin Marsh, and the wooded countryside of the Vendée). As the westernmost and southernmost appellation of the Loire Valley, they enjoy warmer summers and more rain than most of their neighbors. Spring frost is the major threat. It’s one of the smaller appellations, with only 400ha under vine–for comparison, Muscadet has 7000ha.
For more than 20 years, Jérémie Mourat has worked with passion in the pursuit of excellence, to demonstrate that the Vendée is capable of producing great wines. The estate has been farmed organically since 2008, and they’ve begun incorporating some biodynamic practices as well. The goal is to produce wines that showcase the nature of the fruit and the place where it was grown, from their easygoing, early-drinking styles to the more serious, age-worthy examples.
