Nicolas Joly, unstoppable defender of Terroir, created Return to Terroir, a group of winemakers who share the same concern in 2001:

“The taste of wine can only be original and inimitable if it is the full expression of its terroir and climate. Everywhere on earth, the relationship between the four elements – heat, light, water and soil – is different. This unique combination represents the subtlety of a specific site whose characteristics are immediately captured by all growing things, especially vineyards. It is from this understanding that the superior concept of appellation was born, as a guarantee that consumers will find the unique characters of a specific place in the wine they purchase.

For the vines to capture the terroir with their roots, the terroir must be alive. And for the leaves to absorb the climate and its multiple facets (wind, topology, light, heat, etc.), they must be free of synthetic chemicals.

When healthy vineyard practices (organic or biodynamic) have allowed the site to fully express itself, cellar technologies and the flavours they create become unnecessary. True wine keeps its original taste and its ability to age, with complete transparency for the consumers.”

Nicolas Joly

A Return to Terroir wine tasting organized in Los Angeles in 2009

How does the group work?

- This group created in 2001  by Nicolas JOLY  now has 175 winegrowers from 13 different countries.
- It’s purpose is to guaranty the full expression of the appellations and a wine with a high quality level with a great originality.
- To obtain this we act at 3 levels:
1/ A legal guaranty of good agriculture, this means an organic and or biodynamic certificate on the whole vineyard and since at least 3 years. The presented wine comes from a living soil, not treated with chemicals. The consumer has the guaranty that the winegrower has taken a legal engagement.Over  90% of the group practices biodynamic agriculture .

2/ A guaranty that in the cellar no actions would change the full expression of the AOC’s taste. When agriculture is right the cellar is a maternity and not a factory. Banned are of course all 300 aromatic yeast, osmoses, GMO, mechanical harvest (see quality charter). The winegrower signs a record of his cellar actions for the last 3 years.

3/ A tasting is made by a tasting committee made of well-known winegrowers: Alsace: Olivier Humbrecht, Bourgogne: Anne Claude Leflaive and Pierre Morey, Champagne: David Leclapart, Rhone: Philippe de Blicquy, South: Raimond de Villeneuve and Jean François Deu, Loire: Nicolas Joly, Bordeaux: Jean Luc Hubert.
The unanimous consent of the committee is needed to join the group. In some cases we allow a winegrower whose application is in good order but who was refused at the tasting to take part in a tasting of the group to help him commercially.

-Three to four  tasting are organised every year all over the world by Virginie and Nicolas JOLY out of sympathy for the group (the costs are shared by all participants) with a great success.
You can find some more information on our homepage (in construction): www.biodynamy.com