DOMAINE DE L’ECU

Fred and Claire Niger have been running the Domaine de l’Ecu winery in the Loire Valley in a biodynamic way since 1988. The knowledge was passed on to them by Guy Bossard, the founder of the winery, who dedicated most of his life to biodynamics. From the very beginning, Fred’s natural approach to viticulture and winemaking was the focal point of his work. In addition to biodynamics, he also applies the practice of “cosmoculture”, which was presented to him by his friend, the winemaker Philippe Viret. In one sentence, “cosmoculture” means working in harmony with magnetic and cosmic energy fields, through which one achieves a living and harmonious ecosystem. They work mostly with local varieties—Melon de Nourgogne, Folle Blanche, and Cabernet Franc—but they also have a special line of Le Temps des Copains, which they produce in collaboration with friends from different parts of France and Italy. Their signature is the exclusive use of amphorae and cement tanks for wine aging. They keep more than 100 handmade amphorae in their cellar in the south of France and northern Italy. They believe that the neutrality and naturalness of terracotta gives the wines a character tied to pureness and locality, and that the natural thermoregulation and constant circulation of sediment contribute to the complexity and depth that Fred and Claire look for in their wines.