Find us at your favorite local farmer's market in Amsterdam
Stop by, meet us and enjoy a taste of something truly special.
Monday – Amstelveld, Amsterdam Centrum
Saturday – Noordemarkt, Amsterdam Centrum
Artisan RESISTANCE
Cathy & Fred
La Sagesse des Sols
Anjou, Loire, France
Cathy and Fred first met in Alsace, where both were working for other vignerons. Cathy and Fred returned to Anjou and took over Fred’s family estate in 2020.
That very softness is essentially the philosophy of these two children of the vine, hailing from Alsace and the Loire, who didn't name their estate "La Sagesse des Sols" (The Wisdom of the Soil) for nothing.
"The soil dictates the wines we can make, not the other way around." This also means understanding that "We are as many little bacteria that interact with the soil, its surface, harvesting the fruits." This simple, down-to-earth, farmer's idea is that if you listen closely to the earth, it will tell you what to do.
When married with innovation, this wisdom can go very far. It can be as simple as planting oats and fava beans to enrich and structure the soil, boosting biodiversity. It can be as complex as customizing a tractor with a tricked-out rolofaca that weaves cover crops and tall grasses into a floor mat instead of killing everything in its path.
Of course, the vineyard work is crucial, but it would be nothing without an exceptional terroir. The Loire is the most spread-out wine region in France, and it's easy to get lost. So let's talk simply. Their soil rests on the Armorican Massif (Atlantic and Breton side) with soils primarily composed of schist and quartz. All you need to know about these soils is that they are ideal for reasonable yields and achieving beautiful concentration in the grapes. Essentially, these soils store water—but only just enough. In other words, the wine never feels thin, or diluted, and the vineyards hardly experience hydric stress.
