Nicolas Vauthier spent a decade at Aux Crieurs de Vin in Troyes, one of the first natural wine bars in France, before deciding that selling other people's bottles was no longer enough. In 2009, he moved to Avallon at the northern edge of Burgundy, found organic growers across the region's least-celebrated appellations, and began making wine under the banner Vini Viti Vinci. The name, a Latin pun on Caesar's famous phrase, signals both ambition and irreverence.
Backstory
Vauthier's path to winemaking ran through oenology school in Belleville and a stint in Washington State, where industrial-scale production showed him everything he wanted to avoid. Back in France, he worked under Philippe Pacalet, a low-intervention pioneer in Burgundy, and emerged with a clear philosophy: source excellent organic fruit from undervalued terroirs, then stay out of the way. He launched Vini Viti Vinci the same year he arrived in Avallon.
The Region
Northern Burgundy encompasses appellations like Irancy, Chitry, Epineuil, and Coulanges-la-Vineuse, all sitting north and west of Chablis on predominantly limestone soils. These areas are cooler than the Cote d'Or and tend to be overlooked by collectors, which suits Vauthier perfectly. The soils and climate yield wines of genuine freshness and minerality when worked with care.
Vineyards and Farming
Vauthier does not own vineyards but works with trusted organic and biodynamic growers across northern Burgundy. He sources grapes directly on the vine, managing harvest with his own crew to control quality from the first day of picking. This arrangement allows him to maintain rigorous standards without the capital cost of land ownership in a region where prices have climbed steadily.
Winemaking
All fermentation uses native yeasts. No sulfur is added, or nearly none. There is no fining, no filtering, no inputs of any kind beyond the fruit itself. Vauthier works with Pinot Noir for the reds and Chardonnay and Aligote for the whites, letting each variety and appellation dictate the final character of the wine.
The Wines
The portfolio covers the spectrum of northern Burgundy, from crisp Aligote and textured Chardonnay to Pinot Noirs that range from glugable to genuinely profound. The labels are punchy and graphic, reflecting the same energy that defines Vauthier's approach to winemaking: serious about quality, relaxed about everything else.
