Laura Aillaud | An artist taking Luberon by storm

A black and white photo of Laura Aillaud holding a glass of wine

It is in the heart of Luberon, between the Rhône Valley and Provence, that you will find an exceptionally determined winemaker: Laura Aillaud. Bursting with energy and boldness, just like her wines, this new personality on the wine scene is undoubtedly one of a handful of extremely promising winemakers. Her strong ecological convictions and rigorous approach shape wines of startling uniqueness and authenticity. Let’s take a look at this remarkable individual and her extraordinary journey.

There is only a small step from passion to vocation…

Nothing could have predicted how things would turn out. And with good reason! Now settled in the hills of the Luberon, Laura Aillaud, our passionate winemaker, initially had a completely different career in mind. In fact, she started out in the wine world as a sommelier. There she was struck by the beauty of this meticulous craft, not to mention the authenticity of natural wines. More than a simple discovery, it was an epiphany for our future winemaker, who quickly decided to move from pouring to producing. But what exactly prompted this bold decision? For Laura, it was an irrepressible desire to see, touch and experience wine with all her senses. A desire that quickly gave way to a clear calling: to convey, share and create. Laura now strives to convey this philosophy with sincerity and dedication through her wines.

The first step towards fulfilling her dream was to enrol in a viticulture and oenology course, which she completed alongside running a restaurant with her partner. Eager to immerse herself in the world of wine production, she headed for the Var region, where she joined her mentor Jean-Christophe Comor. There, at Domaine des Terres Promises, she learned the art of winemaking and developed an appreciation for natural wine production. With almost unlimited freedom and the support of her peers, Laura was quickly able to express herself within the estate. “During the harvests, we tasted a lot, […] that’s how you learn. And I also met a lot of people who guided me.”

A mindful approach to the environment

It is on this foundation, where responsibility and human values converge, that Laura developed her path and started to flourish alongside Jean-Christophe Comor. In 2017, our aspiring winemaker embarked on her own venture, leasing three hectares of vines in La Tour d’Aigues within the Luberon wine region. The grape varieties planted here are diverse, including Syrah, Carignan, Counoise, Muscat Hamburg, Vermentino, Ugni Blanc, Roussanne, and fifty-year-old Grenache Noir vines. A year later, she took things a step further with three more hectares. However, she pulled out some of the vines which she deemed to be in poor condition and replanted the area in 2021 after allowing nature time to reclaim the land.

Respect for nature has always come first for Laura, who makes it a point of honour to work in harmony with her vines and the environment. Unsurprisingly, the estate is managed organically, with some practices inspired by biodynamics. This means no chemical treatments, very low doses of sulphur and natural grass covers the soil between the vines to allow them to take root deep into the soil. And that’s not all. To better preserve the viability of her terroir, Laura hoped to use draught horses to work the soil. The only issue being that “everyone in my family knows how to work with horses except me”. True to her values, Laura enrolled on a course in draught horse handling to implement ever more environmentally friendly practices.

Natural and artisanal creations

These principles also extend to the winery, with low-intervention practices and fermentation triggered by native yeasts. Laura works tirelessly to develop her estate, most recently with the construction of a new winery. Her instincts serve her well, ensuring that the wines she produces are increasingly pure and authentic. Extremely rare gems, given that the estate’s small production yields only very limited quantities… These handcrafted wines, with their disconcerting energy and naturalness, are definitely worth discovering without delay!