Jean-Yves Péron
Conflans - Haute-Savoie
Seeing the steep valleys of the Haute-Savoie, the alps looming in the background, and feeling the alpine freshness in the air it is hard not to marvel that some intrepid winemakers are sticking it out on these slopes.
Jean-Yves, a Savoyard, is one of these. He studied oenology in Bordeaux and spent a few years working with winemakers around France and beyond. In 2004 he returned to the Savoie and started to collect small parcels planted with old vines of local varieties on the mica studded schist between 350m and 550m altitude.
He now has around 1.5 hectares of tiny parcels which he vinifies separately – the Jacquere, Altesse, Rousanne and Mondeuse vividly expressing the details of the soil and the coolness of the alpine climate. Jean-Yves chooses to ferment in whole bunches for his white and red grapes but for varying amounts of times. The results are extraordinary.
In 2011 Jean-Yves obtained his negociant license and began working with other domaines in the Savoie, notably Raphaël Marin and Adrien Dacquin (both certified organic). Then, in 2017 he built a new cave just above his and Raphaël’s vines, which has allowed him to increase production and begin working with two organic winemakers across the Alps in Italy: Paolo Angelino in Casale Montferrato and Giorgio Barbero in Asti.
