Perched on the limestone hillsides of Saint-Baldoph, between Chambéry and Apremont, Domaine Camille et Mathieu Apffel is rooted in the heart of Savoie's rugged, unspoilt landscapes. At the head of the family wine estate, Camille was joined by Mathieu in early 2010. Together, they began to write a new chapter in the estate's history, oriented towards total respect for nature and the different terroirs they cultivate.
The wine estate covers around 7 hectares, spread over three emblematic Savoy terroirs, between Saint-Baldoph, at the foot of the Chartreuse massif, the Massif du Chat in Parves, and Saint-Alban-Leysse in the Bauges massif. This geographical and geological diversity enables the wine estate to cultivate its vines in a variety of conditions, fostering a unique richness and complexity. In terms of viticulture, Camille and Mathieu have adopted an environmentally-friendly approach, using biodynamic methods and meticulous attention to soil biodiversity.
The plots are planted mainly with native grape varieties adapted to limestone and clay-limestone soils: Jacquère and Altesse on the slopes of Saint-Baldoph and Saint-Alban-Leysse, while Mondeuse and Pinot Noir occupy the cooler, granite slopes of the Massif du Chat. This geographical and varietal distribution also influences winemaking choices. In their quest for authenticity, Camille and Mathieu practice meticulous hand harvesting, followed by low-intervention winemaking in line with the principles of natural wine. Measured maceration, spontaneous fermentation, ageing in stainless steel vats, barrels or stoneware jars, their method is based on the slow infusion of whole bunches, like a tea that is allowed to reveal all its nuances without being rushed. This patient, meticulous work gives rise to cuvées that are both lively and sincere, where the diversity of terroirs is reflected in every bottle.
Soleyane Rouge, born from the slopes of Parves, marries the spicy ardor of Mondeuse with the delicacy of Pinot Noir, to offer a light, fresh and crisp red wine, both gourmet and full of life. Its twin Soleyane Blanc reveals all the richness ofAltesse grown on limestone soils, displaying elegant aromas and beautiful amplitude, with a freshness that perfectly balances its structure. More mineral, Pandaemonium captures the mineral essence of limestone scree, with its Jacquère 's lively, precise and strikingly pure profile, marked by a remarkably fresh chalky salinity. At the foot of the Chartreuse, Avant la Tempête expresses the full relief of its Jacquère from clay-limestone soils, revealing energetic tension, marked salinity and incisive, perfectly controlled acidity. These wines tell a story both intimate and sincere, between modernity and the typicality of Alpine terroirs.
In just a few years, Camille and Mathieu Apffel's natural, sincere and embodied approach has made them a rising star of Savoy wines, combining precision, sincerity and mountain elegance. Each cuvée is a journey through a landscape where family history and geology meet. Camille and Mathieu Apffel are actively involved in redefining what it means to be a great Savoy wine. Here, biodynamic viticulture and natural wine, far from being labels, are lived as a daily reality.
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