DOMAINE MOSSE
Loire, France
Agnès and René Mosse used to run a wine bar and bistro in Tours, but after befriending several natural winemakers in the area, decided to make their own wine. They began their training in viticulture and oenology and even gained practical experience and knowledge in Burgundy from winemakers like Dominique Derain and Frédéric Cossard, before hearing of a vineyard for sale in Saint-Lambert-du-Latay in 1999 - and the domain was born!
Brothers Joseph & Sylvestre Mosse have been working in the vineyard & cellar since 2014, and officially took over the domain from their parents in 2018. Joseph studied as a sommelier and went on to gain practical experience both in France and Chile, and Sylvestre did an apprenticeship with well-known respected natural winemaker Frédéric Cossard, as well as harvest in South Africa with natural wine producer Testalonga. The two have been experimenting with a few new varietals, but otherwise follow in their parents' footsteps with their winemaking. The Mosse domain farms completely sustainably with some chemical-free & holistic practices, with vines of Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Grolleau Noir, Grolleau Gris, and Chardonnay on about 16 hectares. The soils are mainly of slate and sandstone, partly covered with clay, and everything is harvested by hand, in order to ensure the quality of the harvested grapes.
All the wines are barrel-fermented and aged, and the whites usually go through malolactic fermentation.