Mathieu Coste

In the mid-90's Mathieu Coste went to South America to work on a scientific study in the rainforests of French-Gyuana. In charge was the french botanist and biologist Francis Hallé, and the expereince was eye-opening for Mathieu's way of thinking about plants and plant life.
As a young man Mathieu studied agronomy, and later biology in Tours. One of his firsts jobs was at the Coop of Pouilly-sur-Loire, where Mathieu was in charge of the vinification. Alot of people sold grapes to the Coop, and one of them was vignerons Alain Paulat, who only sold parts of his harvest. 
Mathieu immidatly noticed that Alain's grape marerial was different; whole clusters of healty grapes. It was better, no doubt.
Alain was considered an original in the area, but Mathieu knew that he had things to say and wanted to learn from him.
Later Mathieu worked as a teacher at the Beaune Viticulture School in Burgundy, where he taught organic viticulture, alongside conventional viticulture.
He now had the chance to bring his class to visit Alain Paulat in Pouilly-sur-Loire, so the students could get a taste of organic farming.
One of his students was Alexandre Bain, who later started his own domaine in Pouilly-Fumé. When the opportunity came - an organic wineyard for sale - he left his teaching job to persue his love for organic farming. Today Mathieu rents 5.5 hectar of Alain Paulat, who works in the vinyards as well. The soil here is similar to Sancerre's and consits of clay and limestone and vines consists of old Gamay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.