Hervé Ravera is serious, modest, very hard working and likeable, and makes delicious gamay in the south-western part of Beaujolais.

After years working in nursing, Hervé decided he wanted to work with the earth and use his hands and decided that making natural wine would be his new path. In 2007 he purchased a small, 2 hectare parcel of gamay in the remarkably beautiful village of Marchampt, where he lives with his wife and children.

The parcel is steep, situated at 500m above sea level and is south facing. The site is littered with very old stones, a mix of schist and volcanic, some silt and plenty of sand. The vines are all goblet and the site has zero tractor compaction. Hervé turns the topsoil annually with the help of a horse only. During the year, in the vineyard, Hervé works alone. His aim for the site is to promote as much health and biodiversity as possible.

In the winery, the fruit is never destemmed and elevage vessels are largely made from concrete. The sorting and fruit selection is done very diligently.

The altitude and soil here give the wines a very distinct freshness and digestibility. They are delicious when served at about 16 degrees. Hervé produces two cuvees from the two sections of the vineyard — ‘Roue Libre’ from the lower slope and ‘500m’ from the more elevated parcel.