Adeline & Hervé Ravera — High‑Altitude Wines in Beaujolais

A Story Rooted in Place and Passion

Located in the serene village of Marchampt in southwestern Beaujolais, Adeline and Hervé Ravera are the husband-and-wife team behind Le Grain de Sénevé. Founded by Hervé in 2007 and joined by Adeline in 2022, their estate reflects a shared dream: to produce wines that honor nature, family, and the slower rhythms of life.

Once a nurse and a midwife, the couple made a bold transition to viticulture after discovering a neglected parcel of vines at 500 meters altitude. Today, they farm 2 to 2.5 hectares of Gamay—and, since 2019, a small planting of Pinotin—using organic and unfiltered methods, guided by a belief in letting the vineyard speak for itself.

Vineyard & Terroir

Their hillside parcels sit between 400 and 500 meters, exposing vines to cool, slow-ripening conditions that preserve freshness and acidity. The rocky soils—volcanic and schistous—contribute to the wines’ lightness, minerality, and transparency of fruit. Vine cultivation is entirely manual; no tractors, only a trusted horse for fieldwork, supported by hoeing and pickaxe care.

Minimal‑Intervention Winemaking

From vine to bottle, Hervé and Adeline follow a philosophy of utmost restraint:

  • Grapes are hand-harvested, whole-cluster, with minimal manipulation.

  • Fermentations are spontaneous, without added yeasts or CO₂, in buried concrete tanks.

  • No temperature control, no pumping-over or punching-down.

  • Aging occurs in cement or steel tanks.

  • No oak, no filtration, no fining, and usually no added sulfur.

Signature Cuvées

All wines are red and purely varietal, mainly Gamay with a small amount of Pinotin. Notable cuvées include:

  • Roue Libre – The flagship, single-plot Gamay from the estate’s early days.

  • 500 Mètres – Elevated Gamay grown at the highest point of the vineyard.

  • Vos Lettres Sont Irrésistibles – A carbonic maceration cuvée with expressive character.

  • Pierre de Faîte – A southern plot wine using semi-carbonic maceration.

  • Ad Semper – From vines in organic conversion.

  • Sychar – A newer cuvée of Pinotin, introduced in 2020.

These wines are typically labeled as Vin de France or Beaujolais-Villages, but their identity is rooted in their altitude and purity.

A Living Commitment to Ecology and Craft

Hervé’s past as a nurse and Adeline’s experience as a midwife shape their approach—gentle, intuitive, and respectful of natural rhythms. They live on-site with their four children and tend a small, biodiverse farm. Bees, geese, chickens, and fruit trees coexist with the vines, creating a balanced and resilient ecosystem.

Their wines reflect that ethos: vibrant, expressive, and close to nature—a clear expression of high-altitude Beaujolais with a personal touch.

Why It Matters

Le Grain de Sénevé is a quiet revolution in Beaujolais—a micro-estate where sustainability and craftsmanship take center stage. Hervé and Adeline Ravera produce soulful wines deeply connected to place, made with integrity and patience.

Every bottle is a celebration of simplicity, purity, and the enduring bond between people and land.

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