Alice and Olivier de Moor: Chablis' Natural Revolutionaries

Alice and Olivier de Moor are truly iconic figures in the natural wine world, operating their small, highly influential domaine in Courgis, just southwest of Chablis, Burgundy. While Chablis is often associated with large-scale production and conventional methods, the De Moors have quietly, yet powerfully, championed a return to artisanal, minimal-intervention winemaking that respects both the land and the classic character of Chablis.

Olivier, a native of Courgis, and Alice, who hails from the Jura, met while studying enology in Dijon. After gaining experience at other estates, they began their own domaine in 1994, patiently planting their own vineyards and gradually expanding their holdings to about 10 hectares. From the outset, their philosophy was clear: to produce wines of purity and expression that reflected their unique Kimmeridgian terroir.

Their viticulture is meticulously organic (certified since 2008) and has been for decades. They believe in fostering a living soil, rejecting all synthetic chemicals, and sometimes even using a horse to plow their steepest, most fragile parcels. This dedication to healthy vineyards results in grapes that are vibrant and balanced, the true foundation of their exceptional wines.

In the cellar, the De Moors practice non-interventionist winemaking to its fullest extent. Fermentations occur spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, without temperature control. They eschew chaptalization, fining, and filtration, and are renowned for using minimal to no sulfur dioxide throughout the winemaking process, with many of their cuvées bottled entirely sulfur-free. Their wines often see extended aging on fine lees in old oak barrels, foudres, or stainless steel, developing remarkable complexity and textural richness while retaining their signature Chablisienne minerality and acidity.

Beyond their renowned Chablis bottlings (including "L'Humeur du Temps," "Bel Air et Clardy," and Premier Crus like "Mont de Milieu" and "Vau de Vey"), they also produce exceptional Aligoté and Sauvignon Blanc from nearby Saint-Bris. In challenging vintages or for specific projects, they also make wines under their "Le Vendangeur Masqué" (The Masked Harvester) négociant label, sourcing organically farmed grapes from trusted friends, even from other regions. Alice and Olivier de Moor's wines are highly sought after by enthusiasts globally for their profound authenticity, tension, and crystalline expression of Chablis.