Collection: Les Pieds sur Terre - Valentin Morel

In the heart of the Jura, in the village of Poligny, lies the cellar of Les Pieds sur Terre, run by Valentin Morel since 2014. Valentin’s path to winemaking was unconventional, he earned a master’s degree in international law and even explored a career in the civil service, but he ultimately found his calling in natural farming, biodynamics, and artisanal viticulture. Influences include Rudolf Steiner, Masanobu Fukuoka, and Pierre Frick, one of the great pioneers of French biodynamic winemaking.

The estate itself was established by Valentin’s grandfather and father in the late 1970s, planting 10 hectares of vines on the hills around Poligny. Initially, the grapes were sold to the cooperative, but in 1985 the family began producing its own wine. Valentin’s father phased out herbicides in 1999 and worked the soil to improve vine health, laying the groundwork for the later transition to organic and biodynamic practices.

Under Valentin’s guidance, the estate is now certified organic, but he goes further. Cover crops such as radishes and beans are sown between the rows, and rather than turning the soil as is common in the region, he gently scratches the top layer and lays down plant mulch with a roller to preserve soil structure. Much of the vineyard work is done by hand. Fermentation is spontaneous, and wines are bottled with minimal or no sulfur.

Valentin’s philosophy extends beyond agriculture. For him, winemaking is also a matter of ethics and politics. He is active in local farming communities, experiments with hybrid varieties to prepare for climate change, and advocates for broader recognition of natural wines within AOC regulations.

His wines, Poulsard, Trousseau, Chardonnay, Savagnin, and recently hybrids are intensely honest and full of character. They convey the raw strength, vitality, and authenticity of the Jura, yet retain elegance and finesse. Valentin Morel’s work exemplifies a new wave of Jura natural wines: radical, thoughtful, and artisanal expressions of both place and principle.