Bruno Duchêne
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Bruno Duchêne 〰️
Bruno Duchêne is a renowned natural winemaker based in Banyuls-sur-Mer, Roussillon, France,
Celebrated for his vibrant, terroir-driven wines crafted from the steep, schist-covered vineyards of Côte Vermeille. Hailing from the Loire Valley, where he worked as a wild mushroom distributor, Duchêne discovered his passion for non-interventionist winemaking under the mentorship of Burgundy’s organic pioneer, Frédéric Cossard, at Domaine de Chassorney. In 2002, he established his 4-hectare estate in Banyuls and Collioure, cultivating old-vine Grenache (Noir, Blanc, Gris), Carignan, and small parcels of Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Tempranillo using organic and biodynamic practices.
Duchêne’s philosophy emphasizes minimal intervention, with hand-harvested grapes from terraced, low-yielding vines tended without mechanization, often using mules or horses. In the cellar, he employs spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, whole-cluster fermentation for reds, and minimal or no sulfur, producing wines that are fresh, balanced, and infused with a distinctive saline minerality reflective of the Mediterranean terroir. His limited-production cuvées—such as La Luna, La Pascole, and the magnum-only Anodine—have earned a cult following for their elegance and authenticity.
Living aboard his boat, Odin, in Banyuls, Duchêne blends Catalan tradition with a free-spirited creativity, evident in his whimsical labels and cuvée names like Laurie and Mussol (Catalan for owl). Producing just 7,000–10,000 bottles annually, he works from Les 9 Caves, a shared winemaking space, where his meticulous yet playful approach continues to redefine natural wine in Roussillon, capturing the region’s sun, sea, and schist in every bottle.