Antoine Petitprez is a natural winemaker and biodynamic consultant based in Pommard, Burgundy, France, operating under Maison Uliz, founded in 2008. Originally from Tonnerre, Yonne, he trained as a biochemical engineer but shifted to winemaking after realizing industrial paths weren’t for him. His journey included a BTS in viticulture and oenology at Beaune, followed by an agronomy engineering degree from ISARA Lyon, with a thesis on “The Influence of the Moon on Vines and Wine.” Petitprez’s global experience—working in Chablis, Roussillon, California (Turley Wine Cellars), Canada (Domaine Malivoire), and Nuits-Saint-Georges (Domaine de l’Arlot)—shaped his biodynamic, minimal-intervention approach. He manages 2 hectares in Savoie and sources organic/biodynamic grapes from top Burgundy domaines (e.g., Meo Camuzet, Domaine Dujac) through his consulting work, vinifying in a small Pommard cellar. His wines are celebrated for elegance, precision, and depth, with 85% sold in France, 50% to Michelin-starred restaurants.

Winemaking Philosophy

• Organic and Biodynamic Viticulture: Petitprez cultivates his Savoie vines biodynamically (Demeter-certified in some plots), using horse-drawn plows and lunar rhythms. In Burgundy, he sources grapes from organic/biodynamic growers he advises, selecting old-vine parcels (40–84 years) on limestone, marl, and alluvial soils. Vineyards span Pommard, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Côte de Nuits, and Chorey-lès-Beaune.

• Natural Winemaking: Whole-cluster fermentation, gentle extraction, spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, no fining, no filtration, and zero or minimal sulfites (some export bottles have trace SO2). Wines age 18–23 months in old barrels (10+ years) to avoid oak dominance, ensuring terroir expression. Production is tiny (1,200 cases annually, 2–4 barrels per cuvée).

• Grape Varieties and Cuvées:

  • Burgundy Whites: Chardonnay (Bourgogne Combe Sud), Aligoté (Les Valendons, La Vielle Craque), floral, mineral, and tense.

  • Burgundy Reds: Pinot Noir (Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Bas Liards, Côte de Nuits Les Vaucrains, Bourgogne Les Carrelles, Chorey-lès-Beaune), Gamay/Pinot Noir (Coteaux Bourguignons Roue Libre, Coup de Blouge), vibrant, fruity, and precise.

  • Savoie Whites: Jacquère (Vin de France-Savoie Brise de Pente), crisp, citrusy, floral.

  • Savoie Reds: Mondeuse (Ascendance, Coteau de la Mort), spicy, floral, dark-fruited, akin to northern Rhône Syrah or Côte de Nuits Pinot Noir.

• Terroir: Burgundy’s limestone and clay-marl soils (Pommard, Savigny-lès-Beaune) yield structured, elegant wines. Savoie’s Jurassic marl-limestone (Saint-Jean de la Porte, Arbin) adds freshness and minerality, especially to Mondeuse and Jacquère.

Background

• Founder: Antoine Petitprez, a self-taught “terroir nerd” with a scientific background, started Maison Uliz in 2008 after consulting for prestigious Burgundy domaines (e.g., Dujac, Meo Camuzet, JJ Confuron, Liger-Belair, Bruno Clavelier). His biodynamic expertise earns him access to premium grapes.

• Vision: To craft authentic, living wines that reflect terroir without additives, blending tradition (whole-cluster, old vines) with innovation (biodynamics, no sulfites). He avoids marketing, focusing on vineyard and cellar work.

• Scale: Ultra-limited production (1,200 cases total) makes cuvées like Les Carrelles (860 bottles) and Les Vaucrains (1,480 bottles) rare, coveted by connoisseurs.

• Challenges: High grape costs in Burgundy limit vineyard ownership (2 hectares in Savoie, none in Burgundy). His discreet profile keeps him under the radar globally, despite Michelin-star demand.