Introduced at a young age to the art and science of the vineyard by both of his grandfathers, Méryl Croizier always felt a strong attraction and a deep affection for the beautiful land of the Ardèche.  And it was when he partook in his first harvests that he knew he was destined to become a winemaker himself.  After studies in winemaking, he and his partner Géraldine have been lovingly tending 5 hectares of land in Valvignères, the valley of vines, since 2012.

The name la Vrille et le Papillon refers to the grapevine’s tendrils (vrille) that poetically wind their way skyward, and to the butterflies (papillons) that grace the landscape, a sign of the earth’s health and vitality.  It was on a romantic walk through the parcels they would acquire that the name came to them.  From the beginning, Méryl and Géraldine knew they wanted to work organically, nurturing their vineyards to obtain the best possible fruit.  They made their first wines at the cellar of neighbours Hélène and Christophe of the Domaine des Vigneaux and have since built their own installations next to their family home.  Committed to the philosophy of natural wine at every step of the process, their precisely crafted wines are elegant and alive: spontaneous fermentation, no filtering and fining, and no added sulphites. 

A visit to the domaine is a moment of pure pleasure - beautiful surroundings, a warm and generous welcome, engaging conversation, a passion for craftsmanship, an optimistic outlook on life.  These qualities inevitably shape the wines, and we are delighted to be able to bring a small quantity to British Columbia!  

On Instagram: @la_vrille_et_le_papillon