L’Éther Créatif

History of Domaine L'Éther Créatif

The story of Domaine L'Éther Créatif is a truly transatlantic odyssey. Before settling in the Jura, Marina and Dede Santos devoted twelve years of their lives to a biodynamic agroforestry project in Brazil. There, they produced natural wines, cultivated kitchen gardens, aromatic herbs and pet'nats made from native forest fruits, ran a small bistro and managed an infusion workshop, all within a certified organic and biodynamic approach. This holistic experience taught them a deep respect for the land and the conviction that a Fine Wine must be born from living, whole-hearted farming.

Over the course of their travels, wine fairs and international internships, the couple developed a particularly strong bond with France, and more specifically with the Jura. The gentle way of life, the terroirs and above all the Jurassian grapes won their hearts. When they decided to change countries, the place was already chosen. Having weathered the pandemic, they arrived in France at the end of 2021, with their suitcases and a great deal of enthusiasm. The name of the domaine, "L'Éther Créatif," was born from an expression used by a friend who saw in them the know-how to make wine. Today, nearly three years later, they have almost completed the renovation of their more than two-hundred-year-old house, farm 3 hectares of vines and produce cuvées that are increasingly noticed by enthusiasts and natural wine merchants.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine L'Éther Créatif

The vineyard of Domaine L'Éther Créatif covers 3 hectares, spread across three distinct plots at the heart of the Jura. The first plot is located at Nevy-sur-Seille, around the domaine's house, on soils characteristic of the Revermont. The second is situated between Nevy-sur-Seille and Château-Chalon, on the lieu-dit La Chaux, at an altitude of 700 metres, planted with Chardonnay and Savagnin of around forty years old on a terroir of marls and calcareous scree. The third, at Pupillin, on the lieu-dit Sous la Roche, at 400 metres altitude, hosts Savagnin and Chardonnay on a clay-limestone terroir resting on the blue Lias marls.

The grape varieties combine the emblematic varietals of the Jura: Savagnin and Chardonnay for the whites, Trousseau and Jura Gamay for the reds. Viticulture is rigorously organic and biodynamic, with no synthetic chemical inputs, using herbal preparations and sustained attention to the rhythms of living things. An absolutely unique feature: Marina and Dede tend their vines entirely by hand, without a tractor, in close connection with local biodiversity. This radically manual and respectful approach, inherited from their Brazilian experience, makes the domaine one of the most committed in the current Jurassian landscape.

Vinifications at Domaine L'Éther Créatif

In the cellar, in their winery at Nevy-sur-Seille, Marina and Dede apply a philosophy consistent with their approach in the vineyard. The wines are made without any oenological inputs, using gravity as much as possible to avoid any rough handling. The grapes are harvested by hand, with rigorous sorting, then destemmed manually. Depending on the type of wine sought, the grapes are pressed directly (for the straight whites) or placed in vats for maceration (for the reds and maceration whites).

Fermentations are conducted solely with the indigenous yeasts native to the grapes, following a logic of spontaneous fermentation without any additions. Aging takes place in vats and oak barrels, for durations adapted to each cuvée, without battonage or filtration, in a minimalist approach that allows the wine to evolve freely. No sulfur is added, either during winemaking or at bottling, which places the domaine among the most demanding in the new natural Jura. Each cuvée comes from a single grape variety and a single plot, in a logic of pure terroir expression. The result is a recognizable signature: vibrant, honest, energetic wines with a poetic and embodied character, faithful to the couple's artistic sensibility.

The Cuvées of Domaine L'Éther Créatif

Divergent: signature red cuvée in Vin de France, made from 100% Jura Gamay, with no added sulfites. Vinified naturally without any inputs, aged in vats and barrels. Very pale color, expressive nose evoking Poulsard more than Gamay, with small red fruits (redcurrant, peony), soft spices. Light, low-tannin, fresh palate, simple yet tremendously pleasing, clean, with a tangy, spiced finish. A lively and joyful cuvée, a perfect illustration of the domaine's style.

Convergent: white cuvée in Vin de France, made from 100% Chardonnay grown on the marly-limestone soils of the Jura. An original particularity: it is a blend of two vintages, which establishes a precise balance and offers a composed expression of this great Jurassian grape variety. Natural vinification, slow fermentations, patient aging. Ample yet structured palate, with a saline energy that lengthens the texture and adds depth. The wine gains in complexity without losing its clarity, remaining remarkably accessible at the table. Ideal with roast chicken or baked fish.

Capturer le Moment: sparkling cuvée in Vin de France, made from 100% Chardonnay grown on the marly-limestone soils of the Jura. A pet'nat conceived in the moment, a spontaneous and vibrant expression of Chardonnay. Vinified by natural fermentation without any attempt at smoothing or correction, allowing the energy of the juice to express itself freely. Fine bubbles, taut and fresh palate, with a clear tension that makes it very easy to drink. The wine evolves with lightness, carried by a subtle minerality and a clean finish. An immediately pleasurable and authentic sparkling wine, perfect to share with a quiche lorraine.

Savagnin cuvées: made from 100% Savagnin from the La Chaux and Sous la Roche plots, these cuvées reveal the full nobility of this great Jurassian grape variety. Natural vinification without inputs, long aging in barrels without battonage or filtration. Bright color, expressive nose with notes of yellow fruits, white flowers and a pronounced mineral signature, taut, deep palate with great aging potential. A precise and sensitive expression of Savagnin, faithful to the domaine's poetic philosophy.

Trousseau cuvées: red cuvées in Vin de France, made from 100% Trousseau, an emblematic Jura grape variety. Vinified naturally, without inputs or added sulfites, aged patiently in barrels. Intense ruby color, complex nose of red fruits, strawberries, raspberries and spiced nuances, elegant, fresh palate with a fine tannic structure. A lively and personal expression of Jurassian Trousseau.

Pet'Nat négociant cuvées: the domaine's first sparkling cuvées, made from organic grapes purchased from winemaker friends, using the ancestral method (bottle fermentation with residual grape sugars). A joyful entry point into Marina and Dede's world, which allowed them to release their first wines in France before producing cuvées from their own vines.