François & Francine Dhumes
Orcet - Auvergne
After studying oenology in Burgundy, François worked with various growers in the Rhône valley. Bored with more industrial winemaking he moved back to his native Auvergne and fell in with the band of natural winemakers that were establishing themselves there.
He bought some vines and with the help of Patrick Bouju and the Tricots began to make wine in a more natural way (he still does some work for both of these growers to fund his own winemaking). François has a smattering of vines (4 ha) on the hill of Corent overlooking the river Allier planted with Gamay d’Auvergne and Chardonnay on limestone and basalt. In 2017 Francois built a new cellar and home in Orcet and now makes wine there with the help of his partner Francine.
