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Maison Stephan
In the heart of the Côte-Rôtie, where majestic granite slopes rise above the Rhône valley, Maison Stephan is a true jewel of natural winemaking. Since 1991, Jean-Michel Stephan, assisted by his son Romain, has been cultivating one of the most remarkable wine treasures of the northern Rhône Valley on 4.5 hectares of steep vineyards. The speciality: his vineyards are still planted with ancient Sérine vines, a fascinating indigenous relative of the Syrah grape, whose genetic heritage is preserved through meticulous selection. The uncompromising philosophy of the house is manifested in a completely natural winemaking process without any additives. The wines from Maison Stephan are characterised by a vibrant purity and energetic balance that makes them unmistakable.
More about Maison Stephan
The story of a winegrowing renaissance
The history of Maison Stephan is closely interwoven with the rediscovery of one of the most important terroirs in the northern Rhône. When Jean-Michel Stephan acquired his first three hectares in the Côte-Rôtie in 1991, he had no idea of the viticultural treasure he was unearthing. The plots harboured an exceptional stock of prephylloxeric vines, including the now rare Sérine - an original form of Syrah that is prized for its complex aromas and special colour intensity. At a time when many winegrowers were relying on modern clones, Stephan recognised the importance of this genetic heritage and devoted himself meticulously to preserving it through scientific research. Mass selection.
Terroir as the greatest asset
The vineyards of Maison Stephan today extend over 4.5 hectares on the steepest slopes of the Côte-Rôtie, where granite and gneiss soils provide ideal conditions for deep-rooted vines. The extreme topography requires heroic viticulture - it also creates a unique microclimate. The south-east facing terraces act as natural solar collectors, while the cool northerly winds ensure balanced ripening. In addition to Sérine and Syrah small stocks of Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne also thrive here, which find their fulfilment in the house's white wines. A similar dedication to the terroir of the northern Rhône is also evident in Domaine du Coulet with their impressive Cornas wines.
The uncompromising path to naturalness
The philosophy of Maison Stephan was significantly influenced by Jean-Michel's years of apprenticeship at Jean-Paul Brun one of the pioneers of the natural wine movement. Since 1995, the winery has been consistently working close to nature, and since 1997 the wines have been without any oenological additives prepared. Cultivation is largely carried out by hand, supported by horses for gentle soil cultivation. Cable winches are used on the steepest slopes. Yields are deliberately kept low at 30 hectolitres per hectare in order to guarantee the highest quality.
The art of minimal intervention
In the cellar, Maison Stephan uses traditional methods with a modern understanding. The hand-picked grapes are partly macerated as whole berries. carbonique fermented - a particularly gentle method that preserves the fruit flavours. Ageing takes place in used oak barrels from the Jupille forest, which give the wines structure without dominating them. Characteristic is the complete No use of sulphur and other additives - an approach that requires the utmost precision in winemaking.
The wines are an expression of this uncompromising philosophy: they display impressive purity and precision, coupled with an almost electric energy. The portfolio ranges from the Grand Vins such as the Côte Rôtie „Les Binardes“ and the legendary Côte Rôtie „L'Ultime“ via the more accessible Syrah VdF through to remarkable white wines. Since 2017, son Romain has been continuing the tradition and carefully developing it further. International demand far exceeds the limited production - a testament to the exceptional quality of these wines, which are among the best in the world. most authentic interpretations of the Côte-Rôtie include.