Anselme Selosse is a revolutionary wine maker. Against all odds and hurdles put in front of him by many of his peers, he has in 40 years managed to give a new dimension to Champagne wines, bringing them back to the dinner table along the way. He has also inspired a young generation of growers craving for the excitement of expressing their passion and differences in wines.
Anselme’s parents carried out their first vinification in 1964. Ten years later, Anselme was given the keys to the Domaine. He would then go on a journey in process of observation, trial and error and contemplation in regards to his viticultural methods and practices. His empirical approach to viticulture and vinification is perhaps his most remarkable trait as a winegrower.
From 1990 to 1996 the principals of agro-biology were applied in the vineyards. From 1996 his focus turned to bio-dynamics. In 2002 Anselme distracted himself from bio-dynamic doctrine, defying the usual codes and process as he did not wish to have any hand in influencing nature. The thoughts and reflections of Masanobu Fukuoa and permaculture had begun to inspire him and subsequently the attention he pays to the vines and the wine.
The Selosse family has developed its own system of viticulture which is an approach that follows no set of method but rather permanently adapts itself to the circumstances confronted throughout the growing season in the various vineyard plots. Anselme and Guillaume often make references to “gatherers”, those who venture out into nature to reap the harvest and collect the fruit:
“First, do no harm… The Hippocratic oath…. It is man who perturbs nature the most, thus one must refrain from intervening as often as possible”.
Anselme and Corinne’s son, Guillaume since 2012 has been following his father’s footsteps and is preparing to take on the keys to the Domaine. During the time spent working side by side with his father, he has been learning and naturally developing his own viticultural skills which most certainly lend a distinctive identity to the wines in the future.
With great integrity, open-mindedness and vigour, Guillaume is readying himself to leave his own mark upon the family history of dreams, ambition and charisma that are his alone.
