Jean-Claude Lapaluis part of the new-wave ofnatural winemakersinBeaujolaisand his wines are some of thefinest in the region.He grew up in a vine-growing family, but unlike his father who sold all his grapes to a co-operative, Jean-Claude quickly realised he needed to oversee the whole process.

Today he owns around 12 hectares of organically farmed vines. Not afraid to bend, or even break, the rules, he practices minimal-intervention wine-making, using as little sulphur-dioxide as possible.

Gringetis a white wine grape from Savoie. Only very few plantings of Gringet exist. Most are to be found in the much-prized vineyards of Ayze, where they are treasured by a handful of growers.

Wines made from Gringet tend to be floral-scented and relatively delicate. Their aromas are redolent of both apple blossom and fruit, which complements their tart acidity well. Overall, they give a good sense of place, particularly as they are produced almost exclusively in the mountains of Savoie and fit in well with the traditional Savoyard wine style.