Etienne & Claude Courtois

Artisan vignerons crafting wild, living wines from the heart of Sologne

snapshot

Region: Sologne, Loire Valley, France (Vin de France)
Style: Natural, terroir-expressive reds & whites
Vineyards: ~13–18 ha interwoven with woodland & fields
Farming vibe: No chemicals, biodiversity-first viticulture
Grapes: Gamay, Côt/Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon, Romorantin, Pineau d’Aunis & more
Signature: Long élevage, indigenous ferments, pure expression

 

“In my wines, I have only grapes.”

ETIENNE COURTOIS
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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.

Where The Wine Is Born

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.

Sologne

How the wine feels

Earth & Breath

Mineral clay and wild herb energy give shape and personality.

Organic Pulse

Fruit and structure move with lively tension and freshness.

Wild Precision

Low intervention and long élevage reveal layered terroir detail.
Les Cailloux du Paradis - Quartz 2023

Les Cailloux du Paradis - Quartz 2023

Les Cailloux du Paradis - Quartz 2023
€39,00 EUR
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.

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.”