Elodie Balme began her career in wine through sales, but at 19 she left to study viticulture and oenology, soon apprenticing with Marcel Richaud, a biodynamic pioneer in the Southern Rhône whose philosophy deeply influenced her. Encouraged by Richaud, she founded Domaine Elodie Balme at 23, producing her first vintage in 2006 from four hectares of her father Bernard’s vines. Together, they now manage 25 hectares, with Elodie vinifying 17 and planning to work all by 2023. While Bernard once farmed conventionally, Elodie has transitioned nearly all parcels to organic practices, eliminating pesticides and herbicides and using organic fertilizers, with certification expected by 2024. In the cellar, fermentations are spontaneous from a pied de cuve and aging occurs in concrete, with no sulfur added until after blending and only minimal use at bottling.
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