Maison Maenad

History of Maison Maenad

The story of Maison Maenad begins in 2017, when Katie Worobeck, originally from Ottawa, Canada, crossed the Atlantic to undertake a six-month internship with Anne and Jean-François Ganevat, guiding figures of natural wines in the Jura. This initially temporary experience was transformed into a true vocation: Katie would remain five years alongside the Ganevats, climbing every rung and immersing herself in a philosophy of absolute respect for living things. Previously, she had worked at a winery in Ontario and taken part in a harvest at Bouchard Finlayson in South Africa in 2015.

The first vintage under the Maison Maenad label was born in 2019, from just over half a hectare of the climat "Aux Varrons" (Rotalier), a Chardonnay plot on clay-limestone soil, complemented by a négociant cuvée made from Gamay from Beaujolais. The name Maenad refers to the Maenads, the possessed and inspired women of the god Dionysus in Greek mythology, a symbol of freedom, wild nature and sincere expression. From 2022, the project took on a new dimension with the acquisition of approximately 3 additional hectares of old vines above Grusse, in a high-altitude forest setting.

Terroirs and Vines of Maison Maenad

The Maison Maenad vineyard today extends over nearly 4 hectares in the southern Revermont of the Jura, around the villages of Orbagna, Rotalier and Grusse. The historic plot, located in the celebrated lieu-dit "Aux Varrons" in Rotalier, is planted with Chardonnay on clay-limestone soils, with a few rows of Gamay and old hybrid varieties in complantation. This plot is emblematic of the Jura, neighbouring reference estates such as that of Kenjiro Kagami.

The new plots, perched on the heights of Grusse at the forest's edge, are planted with very old vines on Jurassic limestone and marl, and bring together all five traditional Jura grape varieties: Chardonnay, Savagnin, Trousseau, Poulsard and Pinot Noir. Farming is strictly organic with biodynamic principles: manual soil work, preservation of biodiversity, attention to microbial life and respect for the rhythm of the seasons. Yields are deliberately low to deliver concentrated, healthy and expressive grapes.

Vinifications of Maison Maenad

In the cellar, Katie Worobeck's approach is radically non-interventionist, in the tradition of the Ganevat school. Harvests are entirely manual, grapes carefully sorted and then vinified without any addition (no industrial yeasts, no enzymes, no oenological inputs). Both alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place solely with indigenous yeasts naturally present on the grapes, which gives each cuvée a unique personality linked to its vintage and its plot.

Ageing takes place slowly, in old oak barrels (without any wood imprint), for several months to over a year depending on the cuvée. No sulphur is added during ageing, and only a few cuvées may receive a minimal touch at bottling for stabilisation. Some Chardonnay barrels are also aged under veil in the Jura style, extending their maturation over longer periods. Bottling is carried out without filtration or fining, delivering straight wines, sometimes a little wild, always sincere and bearing the identity of the terroir and the winemaker.

The cuvées of Maison Maenad

The cuvée De L'Avant is the estate's historic signature, made from Chardonnay from the lieu-dit "Aux Varrons" in Rotalier, on clay-limestone soils. Vinified without additives and patiently aged, it delivers a straight, chiselled and mineral white with a marked saline texture and pure fruit. A wine for ageing, to be left a few years in the cellar to reveal its full depth. Rated 90–91/100 by international critics.

The cuvée De L'Avant V2 is a variation on the previous cuvée, drawn from a specific barrel selection of the same Varrons climat. Extended ageing, a more complex and sometimes more oxidative aromatic expression: a singular Chardonnay that reveals another facet of the terroir.

The cuvée Drôle de Tendresse is a wine of nuance and delicacy, made from a blend of Jura grape varieties (Poulsard, Trousseau, Pinot Noir depending on the vintage) using gentle vinification. The result is an airy, fruity, slightly crunchy wine with silky tannins and a delightfully approachable character, true to its poetic name.

The cuvée Sous l'Ombrage, produced primarily in Trousseau (sometimes as a blend depending on the vintage), expresses all the finesse of this emblematic Jura grape variety. A light ruby colour, a nose of fresh red fruits (redcurrant, raspberry) enhanced by floral and spiced notes, a silky, vibrant palate with a mineral texture, without added sulphur.

The cuvée Ciel du Ciel is one of the most poetic and rarest cuvées of the estate. Produced in very small quantities, it offers an airy and luminous interpretation of the Jura terroir, without added sulphur, with a vibrant substance and a saline texture. A cuvée of pure emotion, sought after by lovers of high-calibre natural wines.

The cuvée Savagnin Réveil Spectral showcases the iconic grape variety of the Jura. Vinified as a white with ouillage (without veil depending on the vintage), it delivers a straight, taut Savagnin marked by citrus, mineral notes and a saline finish of great purity. The name evokes the ghostly and bewitching character of this grape variety unique in the world.

The cuvée Gamay Le Néant is a négociant cuvée made from grapes from the neighbouring Beaujolais, vinified in the Jura style with the same natural philosophy. Light, approachable, fruity and refreshing, it constitutes a joyful entry point into the world of Katie Worobeck.