Les Pieds sur Terre
Jura

Les Pieds sur Terre came to life in 2014, when 26 year old Valentin Morel took the reins of the families vineyards and winery in Poligny.

A deep thinker, Valentin studied law with the bold plan of wanting to change the world (as many ambitious 19 and 20 year olds do) He completed his degree and was employed by the French Government as a lawyer, but Valentin soon understood that this was not for him. He realised that his father, a humble vigneron, could do more to change the world than he as a lawyer. 

His agriculture and viticulture studies were done in Alsace. It was to be a pivotal period with introductions to Bruno Schueller and Pierre Frick. Valentin likes to say it’s a paradox, but he discovered the natural wines of Jura whilst in Alsace. 

Upon returning home to Poligny, the first thing Valentin did was convert the 6 hectares of vineyards to biodynamic farming practises, influenced not only by the teachings of Steiner but by Masanobu Fukuoka, the Japanese writer of The One Straw Revolution. 

The name Les Pieds sur Terre, meaning ‘Feet on Earth’ came first as a reflection of a state of mind. But it is also a nod to the French radio program where guests are left to express themselves without intervention from the journalist.

To distinguish himself from his father and the wines he produced under Domaine Morel, Valentin decided to produce single vineyard wines. Expressing terroir through the wine in the bottle was key, and Stephane Tissot was an influence and mentor for this. 

Valentin has been committed from the beginning to finding a way forward with the challenges climate change poses, over the past 6 years spring frosts have had debilitating losses to his yields. In 2017 he planted an experimental 0.8-hectare (0.2 in production) vineyard to hybrids, varieties that are frost resistant. He has also published a book ‘Un Autre Vin’ focused on these issues and solutions. 

The Les Trouillots vineyard is located to the north of Poligny. Just under 3 hectares it faces south on deep Triassic marne soils; grey marl and gryphées (limestone layer filled with small, fossilised shells). Planted to Chardonnay, Savagnin, Pinot Noir, Trousseau and Poulsard, the vines are 40+ years of age. 

Saint Savin is located to the south of the village, A one hectare plot with western exposure, Chardonnay was planted in 1980. The soil here broken limestone over grey marl with the mountain range on its eastern side. 

Bois d'Arnaux lies north of Les Trouillots. Purchased in 2014, Valentin began planting in 2015 with Savagnin and Poulsard. The cuttings were massale selection from Labet and Bornard. Facing west, the soils are some of the oldest in the Jura, Iris Marl (multi coloured marls from the Triassic period).

En Boutasse is a vineyard that has recently come back to the family, a 1ha plot owned by Valentin’s father Jean-Luc which was rented out until 2022. Previously farmed in organics, it is now in conversion to biodynamic. Planted to Poulsard and Savagnin, the vines are 40+ years old, the soil lias marl. This is also the site of the hybrids.

As one would expect his work in the cellar is without intervention and with natural yeasts. The whites are directly pressed and èlevaged until they are ready in old barriques. The reds are de-stemmed, macerated between two to three weeks and èlevaged in stainless steel tanks for around 8 months before bottling. 

All wines are un-fined, unfiltered and without sulphur additions.