Domaine de l'Ecu

Domaine de l'Ecu is a wine producer based in the Loire Valley of France, operating under the Vin de France appellation. The domaine has long been associated with biodynamic viticulture and a commitment to minimal intervention in both the vineyard and cellar. Labelling wines as Vin de France, rather than under a more specific Loire appellation, gives the producer flexibility to work outside the constraints of regional classification rules.

The domaine's approach to winemaking tends toward natural methods, with little or no added sulphur and indigenous yeast fermentations. Their orange wines are produced through extended skin contact with white grapes, a technique that extracts tannins, colour, and textural complexity not typically found in conventionally made whites. The resulting wines are often structured and oxidative in character, with a depth that rewards attention.

Their "Faust" is made from Chardonnay vinified as an orange wine — an unconventional choice for the variety, which is more commonly fermented without skin contact. The Vin de France designation on this wine reflects its departure from appellation norms rather than any compromise in quality or identity.