The winemaker · Sologne, Loire Valley, France (Vin de France)
Les Cailloux du Paradis
Artisan vignerons crafting wild, living wines from the heart of Sologne
- Region
- Sologne, Loire Valley, France (Vin de France)
- Style
- Natural, terroir-expressive reds & whites
- Vineyards
- ~13–18 ha interwoven with woodland & fields
- Farming
- No chemicals, biodiversity-first viticulture
- Grapes
- Gamay, Côt/Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon, Romorantin, Pineau d’Aunis & more
- Signature
- Long élevage, indigenous ferments, pure expression
The wines
Wines from Les Cailloux du Paradis
The story
How they got here
Les Cailloux du Paradis was born from the vision of Claude Courtois, a true pioneer of natural wine who, over 20+ years ago, established a wine farm in the Sologne — a landscape of thin clay soils, woods, fields, and grasslands seldom associated with viticulture.
Here, grapes grow alongside fruit trees, hedges, and wild pasture in a mosaic of life that feels more farm than vineyard. Claude’s philosophy was never about technology or chemicals; he championed biodiversity, letting nature govern timing and growth.
Today, the estate’s ethos continues under the stewardship of Etienne Courtois (with Claude still present), who took the helm of most cuvées while retaining the same deep respect for natural processes. Etienne now manages extended aging, experiments with slightly shorter élevages for freshness, and carries forward the family’s belief that low intervention and high observation yield wines of integrity and lively expression.
“In my wines, I have only grapes.”
ETIENNE COURTOIS
The place
Sologne
Les Cailloux du Paradis sits around Soings-en-Sologne, near Cheverny in the Loire Valley — one of France’s most unusual terroirs for wine. Here, poor but living soils of flinty clay and quartz intermingle with pastures and woodland, so the land feels alive underfoot, feeding vines through deep root systems and natural moisture.
This is not a polished vineyard landscape; it’s a garden-farm ecosystem, where the interplay of grasses, vines, trees, and micro-organisms creates a rich terroir signature. Wines from this land show fresh minerality, vibrant acidity, and the soulful imprint of Sologne’s living soil, reflected in both reds and whites.
In the glass
How the wines feel
- 01
Earth & Breath
Mineral clay and wild herb energy give shape and personality.
- 02
Organic Pulse
Fruit and structure move with lively tension and freshness.
- 03
Wild Precision
Low intervention and long élevage reveal layered terroir detail.
For the nerds
For the nerds
Les Cailloux du Paradis is a multi-generational natural wine domain rooted in an extraordinary landscape rarely associated with winemaking. Founded by Claude Courtois, a self-described paysan-vigneron, the estate celebrates absolute respect for microbial life and biodiversity: no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, synthetic chemicals, or artificial inputs are used.
Keep reading
The vineyards — spanning roughly 13–18 hectares of mostly old vines interwoven with trees, fields, and grass — host over 40 grape varieties, from Gamay and Côt (Malbec) to Sauvignon Blanc, Romorantin, Pineau d’Aunis, Cabernet Franc, and more.
Fermentation is always natural, with indigenous yeasts and long élevage periods in barrels or cuves. Etienne brings a fresh eye to the work, balancing extended aging with precise handling that brings out tension, minerality, and expressive fruit in every cuvée.
From loose field blends like Racines to single varietal expressions such as Quartz and Romorantin, the wines reflect Sologne’s living soil and commitment to pure expression — wines where nature is not overridden but revealed.
“Nothing comes into my vineyard.”