Benoît Camus

Benoît Camus is a singular voice in the natural wine world — an old-school, paysan vigneron rooted in the soils of southern Beaujolais. He cultivates approximately 4 hectares, spread across eight small parcels around Ville-sur-Jarnioux, where the terroir is a mosaic of limestone with layers of clay, granite, and marl.

His first vintage under his own care was 2006, though he has worked among vines since his youth. Unlike many, Benoît lives simply — in a caravan tucked into one of his parcels, which he affectionately calls “Château Roulant.”

Benoît tends his vines alone, working organically by hand, eschewing herbicides, synthetic treatments, and mechanization. In the cellar, his approach is equally minimalist: spontaneous fermentations in concrete and stainless tanks, élevage without additions, and a philosophy of purity over intervention.

In earlier years, Benoît did not always bottle under his own name, preferring to let trusted friends like Philippe Jambon

label and distribute some of his production under négociant projects. This reticence contributed to a mystique around his wines, which are often rare and highly sought.

His vineyards produce primarily Gamay (over 3.5 ha) and a small parcel of Chardonnay, both treated with equal care in the vineyard and cellar. Benoît’s wines are celebrated for their purity, energy, minerality, and a raw elegance that speaks directly of place. In his wines, one finds a profound respect for the vine, and a quiet rebellion against overcomplication.