Bastian Wolber — Natural Winemaker Between Burgundy and Baden

Bastian Wolber is a rising star in the world of natural wine, crafting energetic, soulful wines that blur the borders between Burgundy, Baden, Alsace, and beyond. Born in Staufen im Breisgau, Germany, Bastian’s early education at the Rudolf Steiner schools nurtured his creativity and confidence—skills that would later define his winemaking style.

After a brief foray into Economics and German Tax Law, Bastian felt the pull of nature and craftsmanship, inspired by his brother Christoph Wolber, co-founder of Wasenhaus Winery in Baden. Frequent visits to Burgundy, including a transformative tasting of Ganevat’s wines at La Dilettante in Beaune, set Bastian on a path toward natural winemaking.

From Apprentice to Independent Winemaker

Starting his hands-on journey in 2013 at Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy, Bastian gained valuable experience working harvests with respected growers like Rudolf Trossen in the Mosel and Jean-Marc Dreyer in Alsace. In 2019, while apprenticing at Jean-François Ganevat, a skateboarding accident led to an unexpected turning point: unable to work in the cellar, Bastian launched his own négociant project, Laisse Tomber—a playful nod to both his fall and his philosophy of letting go.

His first wines, crafted from organically-farmed grapes sourced from trusted friends in France and Germany, quickly gained attention. From Spätburgunder in Baden to Mondeuse in Haute-Savoie and field blends from Alsace, his wines defy traditional appellation boundaries while staying true to natural winemaking methods: native fermentations, no fining or filtration, and minimal sulfur only at bottling.