Maxime Troncy's father handed him a 10-hectare plot of vines in northern Beaujolais in 2013 with one condition: no chemicals. Troncy had already been selling grapes to Julien Altaber and learning from the natural wine community that was reshaping how the world thought about Beaujolais. He named the domaine Les Souriants, the Smiling Ones, and the name reflects everything about how he thinks wine should feel.
The Partnership
In 2021 Troncy brought in his brother-in-law Damien Polosse as a partner, and the domaine was reimagined at four hands. Troncy supplies deep knowledge of the terroir and a calibrated palate for balance; Polosse brings experimental energy and a willingness to push techniques further. The two have since reduced the estate from 18 hectares to a more focused 12 to 13 hectares, concentrating effort on the parcels they understand best.
The Region and Soils
Les Souriants is based in Lantignie in the Beaujolais Cru belt, at the northern edge of the region where the appellation touches Burgundy. The vineyards sit on the granitic soils typical of northern Beaujolais, with some calcareous zones that add tension and lift to the wines. Two-thirds of the estate holds organic certification; the remainder is transitioning. The oldest parcels include vines more than 80 years old.
Winemaking and the Wines
All fermentations start with indigenous yeasts. Troncy favors carbonic maceration for his Gamays, typically running six days before pressing, though maceration lengths are adjusted vintage by vintage to respect the fruit. Whites and a Gewurztraminer-based petillant naturel follow their own logic. Wines age in stainless steel or old barrel depending on the cuvee, and are bottled without fining, filtration, or sulfur addition. The range includes Sourire de Nouveau, Allegresse, Sourire au Naturel, and Galipet, each reflecting a specific parcel or variety in the estate.
