TERROIRS: The shared passion of l’escargot & l’Art du Vin

By Lewis Renton

Lewis Renton is head of sales at l’Art du Vin, a company I am very fond of. I recommend filling up your fridge or red wine cupboard from them.

The concept of ‘terroirs’ is integral to what we do at l’Art du Vin and is something that intrinsically ties our ethos to that displayed by the l’escargot team. Our principal focus is to supply customers with ethically produced, artisan wines that have a true sense of origin. The ability to convey a sense of place, alongside a snapshot of growing conditions and soil health, is something that is unique to natural products.

In recent years there has most definitely been a shift among consumers with regards to what we eat. Even my local greasy spoon café now lists the farm from which they source their bacon! And each week in this newsletter, Fred goes in to great detail discussing the producers he works with. This allows us to begin rebuilding the connection that has been lacking in our society regarding where our food comes from.

However, when it comes to wine, I believe that this disconnect is still very present. One producer recently pointed out to me that wine is one of the few remaining items to be found on shop shelves without a full list of ingredients on the back. When I asked why they believed that to be the case, they remarked that those who produce wine on an industrial scale would need to invest in different packaging as the list of additives they use wouldn’t fit on the back of a regular bottle!

And therein lies the challenge. As consumers, how are we to know how our wine is produced before we make an educated decision about what to pour in our glass? That is where wine merchants must step in to offer our support. To borrow a phrase from Fred, “our role is to complete the circle. To take something all the way from soil to the table.”

To do this properly, we must ensure our winemakers respect the soil, farming in a way which protects both the environment and produces healthy, unsullied fruit. By maintaining a strong personal connection with our producers, we can act as the messenger, passing on their stories and values directly to the consumer.

Now more than ever, I personally believe that our kitchen table is the most important space in the home. Here we can debate, deliberate, nourish and enjoy. And no table is complete without a glass of wine. Cheers!