Michèle RamponiMëralla
Partner of Christian Binner, creator of Mëralla—a circular economy project exploring the enhancement of vine products through wine, grape seed oil, verjuice, and inner balance.
From forgotten orchards to a circular economy—exploring every possibility of the vine
Michèle Ramponi is the partner of Christian Binner, one of Alsace's most iconic natural wine pioneers. Together, they created Mëralla in 2018—a project that began with the promotion of old forgotten orchards and evolved into a comprehensive circular economy initiative [^224^][^231^].
The name Mëralla (pronounced "meralla") represents a mission: to explore the enhancement of different vine products. What started as a small project has grown into a multifaceted operation involving 12 Alsatian natural winegrowers, including Stéphane Bannwarth as their technical eye [^224^].
"For me, the first beauty product is our balance over time in our diet and our inner and outer life path. I wish you to find the beautiful, the good, the joyful on your path!"
Today, Mëralla operates on approximately 1.2 hectares (70 ares plus the equivalent of 50 ares) of vineyards. Michèle produces wines from Alsatian Grand Cru grapes purchased from biodynamic winegrowers, following natural winemaking principles with nothing added and nothing removed (RARE) [^224^][^227^].
Nothing Added, Nothing Removed—exploring 51 Grand Crus through living wines
Mëralla's winemaking philosophy is clear and uncompromising: Nothing Added, Nothing Removed (RARE). The wines are made from Alsatian Grand Cru grapes purchased from biodynamic winegrowers, seeking to highlight living wines that express their terroir without intervention [^224^].
With 51 Grand Crus in Alsace, Michèle sees a world to explore. Each cuvée represents a different aspect of this rich tapestry—different soils, exposures, and microclimates, all expressed through natural fermentation and minimal handling. The goal is to let the terroir speak through the wine [^224^].
Beyond wine, Michèle has established a circular economy around waste recovery. Since 2021, she has been producing grape seed oil for gastronomy and cosmetics. Since 2023, she has made verjuice (the acidic juice of unripe grapes) under the watchful eye of Sylvain Grundlinger Trouvailles & Terroirs. A range of waterless cosmetics is currently in development [^224^][^238^].
- Nothing Added Nothing Removed
- Grand Cru Grapes
- Biodynamic Growers
- Waste Recovery
- Circular Economy
- Inner Balance
Wine, oil, verjuice, and cosmetics—every part of the vine finds its purpose
Natural Wines
Made from Grand Cru grapes purchased from biodynamic winegrowers. Nothing added, nothing removed. Each numbered cuvée explores a different terroir from Alsace's 51 Grand Crus, expressing living wines with minimal intervention [^224^].
Grape Seed Oil
Since 2021, Michèle has produced grape seed oil for gastronomy and cosmetics. Part of the circular economy project recovering waste from 12 Alsatian natural winegrowers. Rich in antioxidants and perfect for both cooking and skincare [^224^][^229^].
Verjuice
Since 2023, Mëralla produces verjuice—the acidic juice of unripe grapes. Used since the Middle Ages as a culinary ingredient and medicinal remedy. Made under the guidance of Sylvain Grundlinger Trouvailles & Terroirs [^224^][^240^].
Numbered cuvées exploring Alsace's Grand Cru terroirs
N°37 Blanc Sec
From a beautiful limestone terroir in Eguisheim, historically known for its great wines. The site is gently sloping, quietly sinking into the landscape. This dry white wine showcases the purity of Alsace's Grand Cru terroir through natural winemaking—no additions, no removals, just pure expression [^239^].
Limestone soil
Grand Cru
Dry white
N°33 Oxydatif
An oxidative white wine that explores the aging potential and textural complexity of Alsatian grapes. Part of Michèle's experimental approach to natural winemaking—embracing oxidation as a tool rather than fighting it. The label features a deer in mist, evoking the mysterious, transformative nature of oxidative aging.
Textural
Aged complexity
Natural
N°25 Cocooning
A skin-contact white wine that embraces the "cocooning" nature of maceration. Made with extended skin contact to extract texture, tannins, and phenolic compounds. Part of Michèle's exploration of Alsace's 51 Grand Crus through different winemaking techniques [^238^].
Maceration
Textural
Grand Cru fruit
N°47 & N°57
Additional numbered cuvées exploring specific Grand Cru sites throughout Alsace. Each number represents a different vineyard, soil type, or winemaking experiment. The wines are made with the same philosophy: nothing added, nothing removed, allowing the terroir to express itself fully [^225^].
Grand Cru
Numbered series
Living wines
The Circular Vision
Michèle Ramponi represents a new paradigm in natural wine—one that sees the vineyard not just as a source of wine, but as a holistic ecosystem where every element has value. From the grapes that become wine, to the seeds pressed for oil, to the unripe fruit transformed into verjuice, nothing is wasted [^224^].
Her work with 12 Alsatian natural winegrowers creates a collaborative network that benefits the entire community. The waterless cosmetics currently in development will add yet another dimension to this circular economy. Michèle's philosophy—that "the first beauty product is our balance over time in our diet and our inner and outer life path"—guides everything she creates [^224^].
- Partner of Christian Binner
- Created Mëralla 2018
- 1.2 hectares Grand Cru
- 12 partner winegrowers
- Nothing Added Nothing Removed
- 51 Grand Crus to explore
- Grape seed oil (since 2021)
- Verjuice (since 2023)
- Waterless cosmetics (developing)
- Circular economy model
- Waste recovery specialist
- Biodynamic sourcing
- Inner & outer balance philosophy