From: Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Varietal: 66% Macabeu, 17% Grenache Gris, 17% Grenache Blanc
Tasting Notes: This fruit-forward and palate-coating white wine show flavors of juicy pear, stone fruit, honey, verbena and wet rocks.
Pairing: Serve with rich fish dishes, bouillabaisse and fresh cheeses.
Olivier Pithon is no stranger to the vines. His older brother, Jo Pithon, settled in the hills of Layon when he was just four years old. It was here that Olivier first found himself frolicking amongst fruit, as well as playing around in the cellar. Olivier began tending vines his family’s vines at the young age of 14. Craving a deeper experience and a broader expansion of his winemaking knowledge, Olivier left the Loire for Bordeaux four years later, which led him to other internships in Jurancon and Beaujolais.
Olivier’s time in Bordeaux led him to meet Stéphane Derenoncourt, a self-taught winemaker to whom Olivier credits much or his winemaking style and inspiration. Olivier was immediately taken by Stéphane’s pursuit of balance, lightness and a simple job well done, all inspired by passion and creativity. “These are things they do not teach you at school,” says Olivier. “Stéphane made me aware of these things.”
In the year 2000, Olivier began searching for a place to call his own. He was immediately attracted by Calce, a small village in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Today, Olivier is proud to farm 8.5 hectares of vines all biodynamically, as he believes this is the best way to respect the natural resources given to him by Mother Earth. His vines are rooted into schist and limestone soils at high elevations, which lead to concentrated and healthy fruit that immensely reflect the place from which it comes.
Organic/Biodynamic