Charlotte & Aurelien Houillon

History of Domaine Charlotte & Aurélien Houillon

The history of Domaine Houillon begins well before 2017, in the Jurassian vineyards of Pupillin. Aurélien Houillon grew up in Franche-Comté, immersed from a very young age in the culture of natural wine. His journey took shape alongside Pierre Overnoy in Pupillin, in the Jura, together with his brother Emmanuel. In 2007, he joined as a partner at Maison Pierre Overnoy, spending several years refining a winemaking philosophy rooted in absolute respect for living things, soils and grapes.

In 2014, eager to write his own chapter, he left for Switzerland and converted an estate to biodynamic farming, broadening his experience with new grape varieties. This Swiss interlude further strengthened his conviction: terroir, cultivated with integrity, can express itself without artifice.

Aurélien and his wife Charlotte first looked for properties in the Jura, then explored the Loire and even Bordeaux, before setting their sights on a farm on the border between Vaucluse and the Drôme Provençale. Charlotte Touati, a Doctor of Literature and specialist in ancient manuscripts, shared this winemaking adventure from the very beginning. In 2017, Domaine Houillon was officially established, and its first vintage marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Charlotte & Aurélien Houillon

The vineyard of Domaine Houillon extends over 9 hectares in a single block, at the lieu-dit La Roche Coucourde in Faucon in the Vaucluse. The soils are of a clay and sandy type, characteristic of a local geological particularity: the safre formations, which also give their name to the lieu-dit. This cohesive block, combining vines, woodland and heath, offers a remarkable biodiversity that contributes to the ecological balance of the whole.

These light, free-draining soils, combined with an ideal exposure and the climatic influence of Mont Ventoux, create conditions conducive to the expression of clean fruit and an aromatic freshness that is consistently found in the estate's wines.

The vines are tended according to biodynamic and organic principles. The soils are mechanically worked, fertiliser is provided by the estate's donkey and horse, and harvesting is done by hand. Aurélien and Charlotte took over 4.5 hectares of semi-abandoned vines (3 ha of Grenache, 1.3 ha of Syrah and Cinsault) with an average age of 40 to 50 years, and have begun replanting white Grenache, grey Grenache, Carignan and additional Cinsault, also experimenting with agroforestry. Yields, deliberately kept low between 17 and 20 hl/ha, ensure optimal concentration and quality.

Winemaking at Domaine Charlotte & Aurélien Houillon

Aurélien makes wine in accordance with the principles of Jules Chauvet, the visionary winemaker, chemist and taster who was the first to advocate for natural wine after the Second World War. Aurélien applies these precepts with absolute consistency: zero inputs, zero added yeasts, zero fining, zero filtration, zero added sulphur.

In the cellar, everything is based on a gravity-flow winery: the wines age in old barrels and stainless steel tanks, without pumps for pump-overs, thus preserving the natural structure and delicate aromas of the grapes. Macerations can last up to ten weeks for certain cuvées, allowing a gentle and progressive extraction of tannins and aromatic compounds.

An additional singularity distinguishes each bottle from Domaine Houillon: the estate's bottles are hand-labelled with paper made from vine shoots produced at the estate. Charlotte, a Doctor of Literature, honed her craft during long stays in China and Ethiopia, as well as through research in Switzerland. She works with papyrus as well as lily paper, tree leaf, tulip leaf, nettle, and even horse manure. 

The Cuvées of Domaine Charlotte & Aurélien Houillon

Canne

The Canne cuvée is the estate's emblematic signature wine. The word "canne" refers to the wooden tap on traditional large barrels used to draw off the free-run juice for evaluation. This cuvée is crafted exclusively from free-run juice, with no press wine. The blend is composed of 70% Grenache Noir and 30% Syrah, sourced from old vines farmed organically and planted on slightly sandy clay-limestone soils. Hand-harvested with low yields: 19 hl/ha. Natural winemaking: 100% destemmed, 10 weeks of maceration, only the free-run juice goes into the composition of this cuvée. Aged in stainless steel tanks, bottled at the estate with no inputs or added sulphur.

Presse

The Presse cuvée forms the natural counterpart to the Canne: it is crafted from press wine, obtained by pressing the grapes after maceration. This entirely confidential cuvée showcases Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, the emblematic grape varieties of the Rhône Valley sublimated by Aurélien and Charlotte Houillon, lending the wine all its fruit, juice and supple tannins. The Presse offers a more structured and textured profile, with generous fruit and a velvety texture, notes of ripe dark fruits, spices and liquorice, and a long, well-balanced finish.

Tonneaux

The Tonneaux cuvée reflects Aurélien's experimentation with ageing methods. As its name suggests, this wine is aged in old barrels, which lends it an additional dimension of complexity. It is a lovely, round and full-bodied wine with notes of ripe dark fruits, spice and liquorice.

Grenache Vieilles Vignes

This cuvée is crafted from the estate's oldest Grenache vines, over 70 years old. It is a pure Grenache with Jurassian accents: a purity and aromatic depth combined with an extreme freshness that opens the door to the most noble expression of the terroir. The nose is refined, spiced and taut, with hints of grenadine, stewed red fruits and a light minerality. On the palate, a masterful balance: elegant, fleshy, long on the finish, with a refreshing natural acidity. Extremely limited production.

Carignan

A cuvée illustrating Aurélien's curiosity for new expressions, the Carignan reveals a gourmand and immediate side here. A very fresh, immediate wine, already ready to drink, with notes of crushed strawberry and redcurrant jelly. The palate is easy-drinking, fluid and highly fruity.

Syrah

The estate's Syrah cuvée demonstrates all the finesse that Aurélien manages to draw from this grape variety in a southern context. Nose of dark fruits, spices and floral touches. Palate: very fine structure, enveloping fruit and a velvety texture. Long finish on the fruit with well-integrated ageing. A sun-drenched wine that is never heavy, perfectly embodying the identity of the estate.