Our Approach
Wine Direct from Winemakers Who Harvest Their Own Grapes
At Les Grappes, we connect wine lovers with independent winemakers throughout France. Our business model focuses on sourcing directly from wineries, a rigorous selection process, and fairer compensation for producers.
The Short Supply Chain
Why buy wine directly from winemakers?
Buying wine through short supply chains—directly from an independent winemaker—means choosing a model that is more transparent, more authentic, and more equitable. By cutting out the middlemen between the winery and the wine lover, each bottle tells the story of a terroir, of winemaking expertise, and of the people who produce it.
The local food system offers many benefits:
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Fairer compensation for winemakers
By buying directly from the winery, a larger share of the value goes to the producer, allowing them to continue investing in the quality of their wines and their operation.
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Complete traceability
You know the origin of each bottle, the vineyard where it was produced, its appellation, its vintage, and the winemaker's methods.
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Rare and exclusive vintages
Many wineries reserve certain vintages for direct sales. This direct-to-consumer model allows consumers to discover wines that are sometimes unavailable through traditional distribution channels.
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A direct relationship with producers
Behind every wine is a passionate woman or man. Buying directly from the producer gives you a better understanding of their approach, their philosophy, and how they tend their vineyards.
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A Deeper Exploration of French Regions
Every wine region has its own identity. By buying directly from the wineries, you can explore the diversity of appellations, grape varieties, and terroirs that make up the richness of French wine.
Buying wine directly from the winery means discovering a story as much as a bottle.
At Les Grappes, we’ve made the short supply chain our business model. It’s a way to promote more responsible consumption, support producers, and discover wines that fully reflect their terroir.
Fewer middlemen
Why choose Les Grappes?
When you choose Les Grappes, you’re choosing a model that prioritizes bringing wine lovers and independent winemakers together. Our platform was designed to make buying wine online more transparent, more personal, and closer to the producers.
While traditional distribution channels often involve multiple intermediaries, Les Grappes gives you direct access to wines from our partner wineries without adding extra steps. Every order is prepared and shipped from our temperature-controlled warehouse in Burgundy.
Traditional Tour
- Winemaker
- Dealer
- Distributor
- Wholesaler or wine merchant
- You
With Les Grappes
- Winemaker
- Les Grappes
- You
- 6,000 m² of temperature-controlled warehouse space in Burgundy
- 40,000 bottles shipped each week
- 1 to 3 days business days for delivery, in shatter-resistant boxes
Beyond simply selling wine online, Les Grappes promotes a different way to discover French vineyards: by giving producers a voice, highlighting the diversity of terroirs, and making it easier to buy wine directly from the wineries. This approach allows wine lovers to enjoy a more authentic experience while supporting the men and women who craft these wines every day.
Our Selection
A rigorous selection of winemakers who harvest their own grapes
Every winery featured on Les Grappes is selected with the same goal in mind: to offer wines that reflect the richness of French terroirs and the expertise of those who craft them.
We prioritize independent winemakers who cultivate their own unique identity, with a particular focus on the quality of the wines, the consistency of the vintages, and the authenticity of their approach. Beyond the tasting experience, we are also interested in the estate’s history, its roots in the local region, and the passion that drives each producer.
Our selection highlights the diversity of French vineyards: from renowned appellations to lesser-known ones, from family-run estates passed down through several generations to young winemakers who are boldly reinventing their craft. This diversity allows every wine lover to discover wines that suit their tastes, while exploring the richness of France’s wine-growing regions.
Our Selection Criteria
- Wine Quality
- Consistency of the vintages
- Authenticity of the Approach
- Roots in the Community
- History of the Estate
- 1,200+ winemakers represented
- 8,000 wines from independent winemakers in storage
- 375 regions represented
- 12 French wine regions
Because a good wine is, above all, a reflection of its terroir and the winemaker’s expertise, we curate a selection that fosters connections between producers and wine enthusiasts, based on trust, transparency, and discovery.
Our Vision of Wine
Wine is much more than just a product: it is the expression of a terroir, a climate, a vintage, and a winemaker’s expertise.
Each bottle tells a unique story, shaped by the people who cultivate the vineyards with passion and pass down their knowledge from generation to generation.
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Without an intermediary
At Les Grappes, we firmly believe that this story deserves to be told without intermediaries. By encouraging people to buy wine directly from the wineries, we hope to bring wine lovers closer to the women and men who craft their wines, while highlighting their work and dedication.
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Discovery, Transparency, Sharing
We champion an approach to wine based on discovery, transparency, and sharing. Whether it’s a renowned appellation or a lesser-known estate, each winemaker brings a unique perspective to their craft and their terroir. It is this diversity that makes French vineyards so rich, and we are committed to highlighting it.
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A more accessible wine
Our goal is to make wine more accessible—not by simplifying its complexity, but by creating a direct connection between producers and wine lovers. Because learning more about a wine’s origins, understanding the winemaker’s choices, and discovering the unique characteristics of a terroir leads to a richer and more authentic tasting experience.
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More Responsible Consumption
Beyond selling wine online, Les Grappes aims to promote more responsible consumption—one that prioritizes short supply chains, highlights the work of independent winemakers, and encourages people to discover the diversity of French terroirs.
Our Commitments
A lasting relationship between winemakers and wine lovers
At Les Grappes, we’ve built our business model around a simple belief: to create a lasting relationship between winemakers and wine lovers. Every decision we make is aimed at highlighting the work of producers, guiding consumers in their discoveries, and promoting the richness of French vineyards.
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Supporting Independent Winemakers
We highlight wineries that share the same commitment to quality and a passion for their craft. Our goal is to provide them with visibility among a community of wine enthusiasts, while allowing them to sell their wines without relying on multiple intermediaries.
By minimizing the number of intermediaries, we help strengthen the bond between producers and their customers, while showcasing each winemaker’s expertise.
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Introducing people to authentic wines
We want to make discovering wine simpler, more accessible, and more rewarding. Through our selection, we invite every wine lover to explore the diversity of French appellations, grape varieties, and terroirs—from iconic estates to lesser-known producers.
Every bottle offers an opportunity to discover a story, a place, and the work of a dedicated winemaker.
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Promoting more responsible consumption
We believe that buying wine directly from producers is a way to support a more transparent and sustainable model. By promoting short supply chains, we encourage a style of consumption that values the work of wineries and minimizes the number of intermediaries between the winemaker and the wine lover.
We also highlight estates that employ a variety of practices (organic farming, biodynamic farming, sustainable viticulture, or environmental initiatives) so that everyone can choose wines that align with their beliefs and preferences.
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Promoting Wine Culture
Beyond simply selling wine online, we want to share the richness of France’s wine heritage. We guide wine enthusiasts as they explore wine regions, appellations, grape varieties, and food-and-wine pairings, making the world of wine more accessible without oversimplifying its diversity.
Our goal is to create a platform where people come not only to buy a bottle but also to gain a better understanding of the people who produce it.
B Corp certified since 2018
An approach recognized by B Corp certification
At Les Grappes, we firmly believe that a company can have a positive impact while growing its business. That is why we chose to have our commitment certified by the B Corp label, an international standard that recognizes companies that meet high standards of social, environmental, and governance performance.
For both our customers and our winemakers, this certification is proof that the commitments we uphold every day are concrete, measurable, and part of a process of continuous improvement.
points on the 2023 B Impact Assessment, compared with a median score of 50.9 for conventional companies
This certification evaluates our entire business
- Our Impact on Our Partner Winemakers
- The well-being of our teams
- Our Governance
- Our Environmental Responsibility
- How we create value for all stakeholders
Being B Corp certified is not an end in itself, but a long-term commitment. We regularly reassess our practices so that we can continue to improve and offer a model that is increasingly fair, transparent, and responsible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are the winemakers featured on Les Grappes selected?
Each winery joins Les Grappes based on criteria of quality, authenticity, and alignment with our philosophy. We seek out independent winemakers who showcase their terroir, expertise, and identity through their wines. Our goal is to offer a selection that reflects the diversity of French vineyards, from the most renowned appellations to lesser-known wineries.
Why buy wine directly from the producer?
Buying directly from a winemaker allows you to learn more about the wines’ origins, support the producers’ work, and gain access to a selection of wines that are sometimes available exclusively at the estate. It’s also a way to discover France’s terroirs through the people who bring them to life every day.
Why choose Les Grappes to buy wine online?
Les Grappes allows you to purchase carefully selected wines directly from independent winemakers, while enjoying a discerning selection and a platform designed to make it easy to discover French wineries, terroirs, and appellations. Our goal is to create a shopping experience that emphasizes close ties with producers and the richness of France’s winemaking heritage.
What sets Les Grappes apart from other wine retail websites?
Les Grappes places the winemaker at the heart of its business model. Unlike platforms that operate primarily as distributors, we work directly with our partner wineries, without any middlemen or wholesalers. This approach fosters a more transparent relationship between producers and consumers, while highlighting the diversity of terroirs, appellations, and expertise that make up the richness of French viticulture.
Are the wines produced using organic farming methods?
Our selection features wineries that employ a variety of practices: organic farming, biodynamic farming, sustainable viticulture, and other environmentally conscious approaches. You can find our organic wines, biodynamic wines, and wines with no added sulfites in dedicated collections.
