Morgane Stoquert & Jérôme FrançoisThe Carpenter & The Barn
From grandfather's vines and great-uncle's barn—two horses, a flock of Ouessant sheep, and 6 hectares of biodynamic poetry in the heart of Alsace.
From carpenter to vigneron—when Jérôme answered the call of the vine
Jérôme François was a carpenter by trade when he felt the irresistible call of the vine. In 2014, he settled in Ostheim, a small Alsatian village, with a few plots inherited from his grandfather and the barn of his great-uncle Charles—a farmer whose legacy lives on in the domaine's name [^259^][^267^].
Late in 2017, Jérôme teamed up with Yann Bury, who brought a young Ardennes mare to the farm. This marked the beginning of their horse-powered approach. Since 2020, Jérôme has partnered with Morgane Stoquert, and together they have become benchmarks for natural, biodynamic winemaking in Alsace [^259^][^267^].
"For Jérôme, this diversity of vine plantings makes each parcel a village with its children, adolescents, adults and elders."
Working their 6 hectares with complete respect for age-old traditions, they practice biodynamic agriculture without tractors—plowing with horses and letting their flock of black Ouessant sheep graze between the rows. The vineyard is treated only with plant decoctions and medicinal herbs, with high-density plantings and heavy vegetative competition [^259^][^267^].
Morning harvests, gentle pressing, and the wisdom of the elders
The vinifications at La Grange de l'Oncle Charles are natural and without any input. The harvest is carried out only in the morning, from 6 a.m. until 12 p.m., to preserve the freshness of each berry as much as possible. Grapes are harvested in 20 kilo boxes and can be picked in several passes to ensure optimal maturity [^267^].
A strict sorting is imposed on the entire team of harvesters. A second sorting takes place when the boxes arrive at the press to eliminate all unhealthy berries and leaves. The grapes are then poured into a pneumatic press for gentle, progressive pressing lasting 10 to 16 hours for light maceration [^267^].
The juices flow by gravity into a settling tank and are left for around ten hours to eliminate coarse particles. Alcoholic fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts present in the cellar and on the grape skins. Malolactic fermentation is always encouraged for well-balanced wines. The wines mature on fine lees for 6 to 18 months before bottling [^267^].
- 6am-12pm harvest only
- 20kg boxes
- Double sorting
- 10-16h gentle press
- Gravity flow
- Indigenous yeasts
Sirus, Fastoche, and the Ouessant flock—working partners in the vineyard
Sirus & Fastoche
The two horses that plow the 6 hectares. They were the inspiration for naming their cuvées with animal illustrations. These gentle giants work the soil with precision and respect, their hooves aerating the earth better than any tractor tire ever could [^259^][^267^].
Ouessant Sheep
A flock of black Ouessant sheep (the smallest breed in the world) graze between the vines, controlling weeds naturally. These heritage sheep from Brittany provide gentle mowing and fertilization, completing the ecosystem of the vineyard without chemicals [^267^].
Poetic names and animal labels—each cuvée a story from the vineyard
La Danse des Corbeaux
A skin-contact white blend—fresh and crisp on the nose with candied citrus peel and white pepper. Palate balances a round and creamy texture with a tight, lean core of crunchy orchard fruit and saline acidity. Named after the crows that dance above the vineyard, watching the harvest [^259^].
Skin contact
Fresh & crisp
Saline finish
Le Chemin d'à Côté
A direct-press co-ferment of Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, and Sylvaner from vines around 30 years old. Grown on clay-limestone soils in the village of Ostheim. Direct pressed and aged in tanks and foudre. Part of their Les Vins Pirouettes collaboration. Fresh, fruity, and terroir-driven [^267^][^277^].
Clay-limestone
Direct press
Foudre aged
La Montagne du Scarabée
One of their beautifully named cuvées. Like all their wines, made with natural fermentation and minimal intervention. The poetic names reflect Jérôme and Morgane's connection to the natural world and the stories each parcel tells. Matured on lees for 6-18 months [^259^][^267^].
Lees aged
Minimal sulfur
Biodynamic fruit
La Belle Colline
Another evocative name from their range. Made with the same meticulous care—morning harvest, gentle pressing, indigenous yeast fermentation, and aging on fine lees. The label features an animal illustration inspired by the horses that work the land [^259^].
Fine lees
Gravity racked
Hand harvested
Lumière d'Été
A summer light orange wine from a co-fermentation of Riesling and Pinot Noir. Fresh and fruity, this cuvée captures the brightness of Alsatian summer in a bottle. Part of the Les Vins Pirouettes range—demonstrating their collaborative approach with other natural winemakers [^267^].
Co-fermentation
Light & fresh
Summer drinking
Les Longues Lignes
A red wine with another poetic name evoking the long rows of vines stretching across the landscape. Made with the same biodynamic fruit and natural approach—whole bunch fermentation, indigenous yeasts, and careful aging. The label continues their animal illustration series [^259^].
Indigenous yeast
Gentle extraction
Natural approach
Le Village des Amoureux
A rosé with perhaps the most romantic name in their range. Like all their cuvées, it tells a story of place and people. Made from biodynamic grapes harvested by hand in the morning, pressed gently, and fermented naturally. The perfect expression of Alsace's potential for delicate, terroir-driven rosé [^259^].
Morning harvest
Gentle press
Natural ferment
The Poetry of Place
Morgane Stoquert and Jérôme François represent a new generation of Alsatian natural winemakers—deeply connected to tradition yet unafraid to forge their own path. Their wines prove that biodynamic farming without tractors, using horses and sheep instead of machines and chemicals, can produce wines of remarkable purity and expression [^259^][^267^].
Their poetic wine names—La Danse des Corbeaux, La Montagne du Scarabée, Le Village des Amoureux—reflect a worldview that sees the vineyard not as an industrial site but as a living community of plants, animals, and people. Each bottle is a story, each label an animal portrait, each sip a connection to the land they steward [^259^].
- Founded 2014 by Jérôme François
- Partner Morgane Stoquert (2020)
- 6 hectares Ostheim
- Grandfather's vines
- Great-uncle Charles's barn
- Biodynamic farming
- Zero tractors
- Two horses (Sirus & Fastoche)
- Ouessant sheep flock
- Morning harvests only (6am-12pm)
- 20kg boxes
- 10-16 hour gentle press
- Gravity flow
- Indigenous yeasts
- 6-18 months lees aging
- Les Vins Pirouettes members
- Animal label illustrations