Domaine de l’Octavin: Alice Bouvot

History Alice Bouvot’s journey to the vines began not in the cellar, but in the conservatory. A classically trained cellist, she transitioned to winemaking after studying enology in Bordeaux and Dijon and working harvests across the globe—from Chile to New Zealand. In 2005, she established Domaine de l’Octavin in Arbois, the heart of the Jura. Originally started with her former partner Charles Dagand, Alice took full control of the estate in 2015. Today, she is a leading voice in the natural wine movement, known for her garden-gnome labels and her refusal to compromise on additive-free winemaking, even in the face of challenging Jura harvests.

Technical Profile

• Viticulture: The estate’s 5 hectares are farmed according to strict biodynamic principles (Demeter certified). Alice emphasizes soil health, using wild grasses and biodiversity to maintain the ecosystem within her plots of Chardonnay, Savagnin, Poulsard, Trousseau, and Pinot Noir.

• Vinification: Alice is a "purist" of the zero-zero philosophy. There are no added sulfites, no commercial yeasts, no fining, and no filtration.

• The "Infusion" Method: Rather than traditional extraction, she often employs a gentle maceration technique where whole clusters "steep" in the juice. This produces reds with a pale, ethereal color and whites with incredible aromatic lift.

• Négociant Work: Due to severe frost years in the Jura, Alice created a négoce (merchant) label. She travels across France to harvest organic grapes from friends in the Rhône, Alsace, and Languedoc, bringing them back to her Arbois cellar to vinify them in her signature high-acid, energetic style.

The Philosophy The "Octavin style" is defined by "electric" acidity and extreme drinkability. By stripping away technical additives, Alice seeks to capture the raw energy of the fruit. Her wines are often described as "living," evolving rapidly in the glass and offering a sensory experience that challenges the traditional, oxidized stereotypes of Jura winemaking.