La Coudee d’Or Blanc Domaine Viret 2009 is a sulphite free wine, or at least as sulphite free as a wine is possible to be!

Philippe Viret makes a range of stunning wines organically, biodynamically and in adherence to his (and his father’s) own philosophy which they call ‘cosmoculture’, in the northern Rhone Valley in the shadow of Mount Ventoux just north of Chateauneuf du Pape. Their winery and production methods are unique for many reasons, and so are their wines.

Cosmoculture is a blend of biodynamic biological  methods and a bioenergetic philosophy of nurturing the natural energies of the earth, which has adopted principles from many ancient civilisations such as the Red Indians, Aborigines, Mayans, Greeks, Egyptians and the Romans. The winery itself was built on a specific location (an old Roman settlement by chance) to enhance it’s natural energy, and was constructed of large blocks of granite, as the Romans used as it’s ideal for maintaining a constant temperature, as the differences between summer and winter can be extreme.

The biological side involves extensive research into the beneficial properties of plants which Philippe then uses to produce his own plant food for the vines. I was there in 40 degrees and I’ve never seen such healthy vines! The bioenergetic principles believe that water is the key to all life and energy can be stored and transported in water’s cell structure, and therefore good ‘energised’ water can be transferred to humans or plants. It’s a very in depth system and I don’t pretend to understand any of it, but one thing I do understand is that it works! Philippe is able to produce wines with no added sulphur whatsoever which are truly superb and which will keep in good condition for in excess of 10 years! I know I’ve drunk some of them!

These are very possibly the healthiest wines on the planet, and they’re also delicious!

What’s it like?

La Coudee d’Or Blanc Domaine Viret 2009 is a boutique white wine made from local grapes, predominantly Marsanne and Rousanne. It’s big rich and luscious without being heavy or cloying. It’s made in tiny quantities and is only available on an allocation basis.

How much, where from?

La Coudee d’Or Blanc Domaine Viret 2009 is available from the UK’s leading low sulphite wine specialist, www.goodwineonline.co.uk