Vinyer de la Ruca is the ultra-micro domain founded by Florentine-born winemaker Manuel di Vecchi Staraz in Banyuls-sur-Mer, located in the Roussillon region of southern France. Situated on steep, hard-schist terraces overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the estate operates entirely without tractors, synthetic chemicals, or industrial machinery, relying instead on hand labor, a mule named Ullamp, and winter-grazing sheep for vineyard management. In the cellar, the organically farmed Grenache and other local varieties are manually destemmed, foot-trodden in open vats, naturally fermented without additives, and gravity-bottled by hose. Emphasizing artisan craftsmanship, much of the tiny ~2,000-bottle annual production—spanning both dry reds and traditional fortified Banyuls—is packaged in unique, hand-blown glass bottles crafted by a local artisan.
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