Domaine des Canailles

Simon Pérot and Étienne Ubaud, conquering southern Beaujolais

From school to running an estate, the two rascals have shared many good years. They are a perfectly complementary duo: one leans towards the vines (Simon), the other towards sommellerie and sales. Together they make natural Beaujolais wines in their own image, Chardonnays and Gamays full of energy and conviviality!

The story of Domaine des Canailles

The story of Simon Pérot and Étienne Ubaud began at school in 2010, when they met on a wine and spirits sales course. At first each went his own way. Simon gained experience in a wine shop, then above all alongside various winemakers: in Anjou at Domaine des Grandes Vignes, in Burgundy with Claire Naudin-Ferrand, then in the Rhône Valley with André Perret.
He then took over the management of the Bel Air school estate in Beaujolais. It was only in 2019 that he decided to set up on his own. Jacques Paires's vines in Beaujolais came his way and he took over the estate, already farmed organically since 2005.
Étienne, meanwhile, found his feet in Toulouse, on the sommelier side, before travelling around the world for three years.
The Canailles adventure therefore began in 2019, when Étienne joined Simon on the estate for the harvest, in Ternand in southern Beaujolais, in the famous Pierres Dorées area.

The vineyard of Domaine des Canailles

The estate's vines lie 30 km from Lyon and have been farmed organically since 2005. Since taking over in 2019, Simon Pérot has moved towards biodynamics. The 8 hectares of vines grow on granite soils at 450 to 550 metres above sea level.
The winemaking shows the greatest respect for the grapes: no inputs, no filtration or fining, and a light addition of sulphur at bottling only if necessary. Domaine des Canailles makes indulgent wines, pure juices without filters.

Domaine des Canailles and natural wine

Dream fulfilled, estate taken over: Simon and Étienne set about making their wines. You will discover spontaneous, indulgent and cheeky wines. The Beaujolais terroir shows in the glass, and the gamble has paid off. The winemaking is entirely natural, with as little intervention as possible.
Their cuvées are each more rascally than the last, like Métro, Boulot, Beaujo. This 100% Gamay with white juice comes from whole bunches, goes through semi-carbonic maceration and is aged in tanks. A lovely Beaujolais from old vines, crunchy and vibrant: the estate's pure-pleasure cuvée.
The Vieille Canaille cuvée stays with the Beaujolais grape, Gamay. From vines over 70 years old, this red goes through a so-called infusion maceration, then ageing in tanks. A very indulgent juice that is also elegant, with more structured notes: a highly energising wine.
There is more than Gamay at Domaine des Canailles: there is also a small hectare of Chardonnay. From it, Simon and Étienne make the White Side Of The Moon cuvée. From young vines, also on granite soils, this Chardonnay is aged 25% in barrels and the rest in tanks. A rich, aromatic Beaujolais white in their image, with plenty of pep, a lovely expression of terroir and fine maturity.
Extremely rascally juices from these school friends, Beaujolais reds just as we like them: fruit-led, fresh and indulgent.