Erell is one of the group of young wine-growers in Rully, and I wanted to ask her about what motivated her.

Outside, it was drizzling miserably, and so it was at our ease, leaning on boxes in the comfort and shelter of the fermentation room, that we talked. She described her years studying viticulture, to which she added a degree in sales, and trips to Australia and Brazil that shaped her professionally, which she spent on “giant wine estates” – quite a few of which were managed by French men and women. She then told me about her desire to work, in fact, about her desire to make her own wine.

But, with no financial back-up or support from her family, she tells me, it was very hard for a young person to make it. The last time a completely new wine grower – especially a young one – set up in Rully dates back a good many years. When the estates are put up for sale, they often wind up being bought by co-operatives or by foreign investors. When Erell was looking for an estate, the one that she was offered was 300 kilometres away, in the Côtes du Rhône area.

Her father, Pierre-Marie, joined us, a sturdy and smiling man. I asked Erell why she chose to work in the wine business.. She was struggling to find her words, no doubt because there was too much to be said. At this point, Pierre-Marie answered for her, “Because you’re a Peasant!” This was clearly a compliment and a matter of pride. A way of life, practically a family obligation. I asked her papa how long the family had been involved with wine, and he replied, “As far as our family tree goes back...1514”. And that was in Rully too!

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