Hervé and Adeline Ravera
〰️
Hervé and Adeline Ravera 〰️
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.
Let me know if you’d like an SEO title and meta description to go with this.
Where to Find Hervé Ravera Wines (Le Grain de Sénévé)
Online Retailers (Global & EU Focus)
International Retailers & Distributors (Examples & General Tips)
- **United States (Key Importers/Retailers):**
- **Zev Rovine Selections (US Importer):** A highly regarded importer of natural wines in the US. Their website (zrswines.com) explicitly lists "Le Grain de Senévé (Hervé Ravera)" as one of their producers, and they distribute to various states. Check their website for state distributors.
- **Campbell Burton Wines (Australia/US Importer - potentially):** While based in Australia, their website has a detailed profile of Hervé Ravera, suggesting they may have a US import arm or work with US partners.
- **Yiannis Wine (Online, US):** Has listed Hervé Ravera wines (e.g., "Roue Libre").
- **Light Years Wine (Online, US - Texas):** A natural wine shop and bar in Houston that has carried Hervé Ravera's "Roue Libre."
- *Contact top-tier independent wine shops in major US cities (e.g., NYC, LA, SF, Chicago) that specialize in natural wines or Beaujolais. They are the most likely to carry or be able to source these wines via importers like Zev Rovine Selections.*
- **France (Direct & Retailers):**
- **Winery Direct Sales (by Appointment):** As a small, artisanal producer, it may be possible to visit Hervé and Adeline at Le Grain de Sénévé in Marchampt (Beaujolais) by appointment. Direct contact via email (if available) or through their importers might facilitate this.
- **Specialized Cavistes & Wine Bars:** Look for "cavistes" (wine shops) in Paris, Lyon, and throughout Beaujolais that specialize in natural wines. They will be primary outlets.
- **United Kingdom:**
- **RAW WINE Fair UK:** Hervé Ravera has participated in RAW WINE, indicating a presence or interest in the UK market. Check the RAW WINE website for UK stockists.
- **Forest Wines (UK Online Retailer):** A natural wine specialist that often stocks exciting French natural producers.
- **Buon Vino (UK Online Retailer):** A well-regarded UK merchant for natural and organic wines.
- **The Modest Merchant (UK Online Retailer):** Focuses on low-intervention wines.
- *Contact independent wine merchants in London and other major cities who emphasize natural and biodynamic Beaujolais wines.*
- **Australia:**
- **Campbell Burton Wines (Importer):** Directly imports Hervé Ravera's wines into Australia. Australian retailers will source through them.
- **General Tips:**
- **Limited Production:** As a small, artisanal producer, production volumes are small, leading to limited availability and rapid sell-outs upon release.
- **Join Mailing Lists:** Sign up for newsletters from specialized natural wine retailers and importers to be notified of new arrivals.
- **Focus on Natural Wine Specialists:** This producer is firmly in the natural wine camp, so traditional wine merchants may not carry them. Target shops and distributors with a strong focus on low-intervention wines.
- **"Vin de France" or Beaujolais Appellation:** His wines will typically be labeled as Beaujolais-Villages or Beaujolais, or sometimes "Vin de France" for specific experimental cuvées.