Elisa Guérin

At the heart of the Moulin-à-Vent appellation, winemaker Élisa Guérin carves out her path with equal parts sensitivity and determination. Born into a family of winegrowers, she initially chose to step away from the family vineyards to pursue studies as an agricultural engineer. Armed with this technical background and a deep understanding of living ecosystems, she returned to her native land in 2018 to take over her parents' vines. On this 5-hectare estate, shared between Moulin-à-Vent and Chiroubles, she offers a modern vision of wine—one that is respectful of life and deeply rooted in the identity of her granitic terroirs.

A Philosophy Guided by the Living World

For Élisa Guérin, the vineyard is envisioned as a global ecosystem. Her background as an agronomist guides every choice in the vineyard, where she applies a pragmatic and demanding agroecological approach. This translates into a deep respect for soil biodiversity, gentle mechanical tillage, and constant attention to the health of the plant.

In the cellar, this rigor transforms into a philosophy of gentle guidance that respects the grape. Vinifications are carried out smoothly, relying exclusively on indigenous yeasts and a highly restricted use of additives (aside from a minimal dose of sulfites), allowing the Gamay grape to express the unique signature of its granitic terroirs.

The estate offers precise, structured, and vibrant wines that reveal the depth of their respective lieux-dits (plots):

MOULIN-À-VENT

• "Les Thorins": Situated on one of the most famous and historic terroirs of Moulin-à-Vent, this cuvée is the flagship of the estate. It thrives on weathered granite soils, particularly rich in red clay and iron oxides. This unique terroir grants it a remarkable balance between the appellation's natural power and great aromatic finesse, marked by notes of black fruits and spices, backed by a beautiful mineral tension.

• "La Vigne de Mon Père" (My Father's Vine): A symbol of legacy and respect for roots, this cuvée pays tribute to family expertise. Sourced from 30- to 50-year-old vines planted on a terroir of granite and ancient silt with a mostly northern exposure (preserving its freshness and balance), it offers a fleshy and generous profile, strike a perfect balance between substance and drinkability.

• "Champ de Cour": Originating from a climat renowned for its weathered granite soils rich in manganese, this cuvée expresses the deepest and most structured facet of the estate. It is a complex, dense wine with a fine, velvety tannic structure—ideal for aging—that reveals all the noble power of Moulin-à-Vent.

CHIROUBLES

• Chiroubles: Born on the heights of the appellation, where the granite is at its purest and the climate is at its coolest, this wine embodies elegance par excellence. Here, Élisa Guérin crafts an airy, infused cuvée distinguished by its aromatic brilliance (notes of fresh red berries and peony) and an infinitely delicate texture. A vibrant Chiroubles, defined by lace-like finesse and freshness.

Virtuous Merchant Winemaking by Élisa Guérin: A Shared Commitment

For Élisa Guérin, négoce (grape sourcing) is not merely a commercial transaction to buy raw materials, but the natural extension of her philosophy as an agricultural engineer and winemaker. It is a human and technical adventure built on trust, mutual respect, and shared peasant values.

Long-Term, Trust-Based Partnerships

Rather than buying grapes anonymously, Élisa chooses to build genuine, long-term partnerships with local winegrowers. She selects partners located on cool, high-quality terroirs (such as Quincié-en-Beaujolais or Lantignié) who share her exacting vision of the land.

This close connection allows her to:

• Closely monitor the vine cycle throughout the entire year.

• Ensure respect for the plant at every single stage.

• Harvest grapes of irreproachable sanitary quality and optimal ripeness.

The Demands of Agroecology, From Vine to Cellar

The heart of this virtuous partnership relies on a strict moral code: the purchased grapes must come from parcels farmed under agroecological principles and environmentally friendly agriculture.

By supporting these practices among her peers, Élisa values the work of winegrowers committed to biodiversity and soil health. Once this exceptional raw material is harvested, she applies the same gentle rigor in the cellar as she does for her estate-grown cuvées:

• Exclusive use of indigenous yeasts

• Natural vinification without artificial adjustments

• Additives reduced to the absolute minimum

The Fruits of this Synergy: Cuvées of Expression and Sharing

The estate's virtuous sourcing approach comes to life through precise and highly approachable cuvées:

• The Beaujolais-Villages Cuvée (Red): Born from a blend of Gamay grapes meticulously selected from her partner growers, it offers a wine of great purity—crisp, crunchy, and particularly vibrant.

• The Beaujolais Blanc Cuvée: Made from Chardonnay grapes selected from magnificent clay-limestone terroirs, this cuvée expresses an entirely different side of the region. This specific soil brings a beautiful tension, elegance, and a chiseled minerality to the wine, offering a fresh, complex, and perfectly balanced white.

Élisa is deeply convinced that merchant winemaking, when approached ethically, humanly, and agronomically, can yield great terroir-driven wines while actively supporting a sustainable future for agriculture in the Beaujolais.