CELLIER DE LA BARATERIE
Savoie, France
Cellier de la Baraterie is a domaine in Savoie, in the French Alps. At its helm is Julien Viana, a talented young farmer and winemaker from the heart of the region. He took over the winery in 2014 from Serge Bouchez, a well-established winemaker in the village of Cruet, where Julien grew up. Julien is not from a winemaking family, and Bouchez had no children or relatives to continue his domain after his retirement, so the match was perfect. Upon finishing his winemaking studies in Beaujolais, Julien returned to Savoie and began his work with a 1-hectare vineyard (2.5 acres).
Today, Julien cultivates 10 hectares (25 acres) on the Combe de Savoie not just in Cruet, but also in the villages of St. Jean de la Porte and Arbin. He dedicates half of his land for production of his own wines, while the rest he cultivates for other winemakers. All of his farming is done according to organic principles. His production covers the classic grapes and appellations of the region: Jacquère, Altesse and Malvoisie for the white wines, with Mondeuse and Gamay for the reds.
