La Maison Romane is a micro-négociant winery in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy, France, founded by Oronce de Beler in 2005. Operating from a small vaulted cellar, de Beler purchases grapes from organic and biodynamic growers in Côte de Nuits and Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, producing ~10,000–15,000 bottles annually of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Aligoté, labeled as Vin de France or appellations like Vosne-Romanée, Gevrey-Chambertin, and Mâcon. His minimalist, natural approach—whole-cluster vinification, minimal sulfur (0–10 mg/L), no fining or filtration—yields pure, terroir-driven wines. Starting with grapes from Jeremy Seysses (Domaine Dujac) in 2005, de Beler has built a cult following for cuvées like Mousses Sauvages (Chardonnay) and rare Grand Crus, with exports to Europe and the US. His horse-plowing business and work with Domaine Chandon de Briailles tie him to Burgundy’s natural wine scene, akin to Chapuis and Durieux.

Winemaking Philosophy

• Organic/Biodynamic Sourcing: De Beler owns no vineyards, sourcing grapes from ~5 hectares of organic and biodynamic vineyards in Marsannay, Vosne-Romanée, Fixin, Chambolle-Musigny, Gevrey-Chambertin, Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, Mâcon, Saint-Véran, Chablis, and Corton. Growers use sustainable practices, with clay-limestone soils imparting minerality. Manual harvests and rigorous sorting (vineyard and table) ensure high-quality fruit. De Beler’s horse-plowing service (using Percheron horses Prosper and Quarto) supports biodynamic partners, enhancing soil health.

• Natural Winemaking: Minimal intervention, with 100% whole-cluster fermentation for reds (Pinot Noir) and most whites (Chardonnay, Aligoté). No added sulfur or low doses (<10 mg/L), no fining, no filtration. Vinification uses gravity in a multi-level cellar, with gentle pigeage (punching down) only in the final phase. Wines age 12 months in old oak barrels, preserving fruit purity and terroir. Bottles are hand-bottled with wax seals, emphasizing artisanal craft. Reds show ruby-red hues, ripe red fruit, and silky tannins; whites (Mousses Sauvages, Chablis) offer freshness, minerality, and occasional volatile acidity.

• Terroir: Côte de Nuits’ clay-limestone soils and temperate climate (mild autumns, few frosts) allow late harvests,yielding concentrated Pinot Noir and fresh Chardonnay, distinct from Jura’s marly limestone (e.g., Plassat’sTrousseau) or Auvergne’s volcanic soils (e.g., No Control’s Gamay).

• Winemaker: Born in Paris, Oronce de Beler left a marketing job at La Revue du Vin de France in 2004 to pursue winemaking in Burgundy. He studied viticulture in Beaune, interned at Domaine Chandon de Briailles, and founded a horse-drawn plowing company in Côte d’Or. In 2005, he launched La Maison Romane (initially Oroncio) in Vosne-Romanée, using grapes from Jeremy Seysses (Domaine Dujac). In 2017, he moved to a larger cellar in Nuits-Saint-Georges. His side projects include artisanal beers, ciders, and animal husbandry.

• Vision: To craft “living” wines with minimal sulfur, respecting fruit and terroir, aligning with Chapuis (sulfite-free) and Plassat (Ganevat mentee). His négoce model allows diverse appellations without diluting quality.