The name means pruners and pickers, which says a great deal about where Chloé Bey and Jordan d'Osualdo put their energy. Tailleurs Cueilleurs is a young domaine in a small appellation you may not have encountered yet: Bugey, a cool-climate pocket of the Ain department tucked between Lyon and Geneva in the Alpine foothills of eastern France. Chloé and Jordan arrived there looking for a place to farm with intention, and they found it on the northern slope of Bugey's ridgeline.
A Meeting at Harvest
Chloé and Jordan met during the 2018 harvest at Domaine Bruno Schueller in Alsace, one of the region's benchmark natural wine estates. The connection was immediate, and so was the shared ambition. By 2021 they had secured their first plots in the village of Saint-Jean-le-Vieux and made their inaugural vintage. The domaine now covers 4 hectares spread across three named parcels: Varey, Poncieux, and Dalivoy.
Cool Climate, Biodynamic Farming
Bugey sits at elevation, with Alpine influence moderating summer heat and preserving acidity in the fruit. Chloé and Jordan farm organically and biodynamically, specifically avoiding soil ploughing and allowing grass to grow freely between the vines to maintain soil moisture and cool the canopy. Agroforestry is central to their long-term vision: they are establishing fruit trees and hedgerows to increase biodiversity and connect their vineyard plots to a broader ecosystem. Varieties planted include Gamay, Mondeuse, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.
No Sulfur, No Shortcuts
Tailleurs Cueilleurs makes approximately 6,000 bottles per year. Every wine is produced without any added sulfur, from harvest through bottling. Maceration times vary by variety and vintage. Aging takes place in demi-muids, old oak barrels, and acacia wood for nine months, with bottling by gravity, without filtration. The approach reflects both a commitment to minimal intervention and a genuine confidence in the quality of the fruit they grow.
Wines to Watch
The portfolio is small but focused: Grenalâ, a Gamay from the Varey parcel; Kové, a Mondeuse and Gamay blend; Futur Végétal, a white; and Rita and Rova, a Gamay and Chardonnay expression. These are early vintages from growers finding their voice in a region that is only beginning to attract the attention it deserves.
