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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UK
Buvance: This retailer has a dedicated page for Hervé Ravera's wines, including his "Le Grain de Sénévé." https://buvance.com/en/collections/herve-ravera
Ancestrel: This merchant announced a new arrival of Ravera's "Le Grain de Senévé" wine, so it's a good place to look for new releases. https://www.ancestrel.com/new-arrival-le-grain-de-seneve-herve-ravera
USA
Yiannis Wine: This retailer has carried several of Hervé Ravera's wines, including "Le Grain de Sénevé - Roue Libre." https://yiannis-wine.myshopify.com/products/herve-ravera-le-grain-de-seneve-roue-libre-2019-750ml
Vivino US: While not a retailer, Vivino is a useful platform for finding out where a specific wine is available in your area. You can search for Hervé Ravera to see listings from various merchants. https://www.vivino.com/US/en/
Canada
Vivino Canada: Similar to the US, Vivino's Canadian site can help you locate retailers that have stocked Hervé Ravera's wines. https://www.vivino.com/CA/en/
RAW WINE: This organization lists producers who make natural wine, and their website is a good resource for finding importers and retailers of Hervé Ravera's wines in Canada. https://www.rawwine.com/profile/grain-de-seneve
Japan
Artisan Cellars: This retailer has featured Hervé Ravera's wines in their offers and catalogs, so they are a potential source. https://www.artisan-cellars.com/
Zev Rovine Selections: While primarily an importer, their website is a good place to inquire about which retailers in Japan carry their portfolio, which includes Hervé Ravera's wines. https://zrswines.com/wine-producer/le-grain-de-seneve/
France
Buvance: This French online shop has carried several of Hervé Ravera's wines, and since they are a French producer, it is a great place to look. https://buvance.com/
Avintures: This retailer has stocked various vintages and cuvées from Hervé Ravera. https://www.avintures.fr/en/le-grain-de-seneve-herve-ravera/