Les Grappes: Wine Directly from Independent Winemakers
At Les Grappes, we connect wine lovers with independent winemakers throughout France. Our model emphasizes buying directly from the winery, a rigorous selection process, and fairer compensation for producers.
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:
- 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 vineyard.
- Complete traceability: You know the origin of each bottle, the vineyard where it was produced, its appellation, its vintage, and the winemaker’s methods.
- 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 impossible to find through traditional distribution channels.
- A direct relationship with the producers: behind every wine is a passionate woman or man. Buying directly from them gives you a better understanding of their approach, their philosophy, and how they tend their vineyards.
- A deeper exploration of France’s terroirs: every wine-growing 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 winemaking.
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.
Buying wine directly from the winery means discovering a story as much as a bottle.
A rigorous selection of independent winemakers
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.
Today, Les Grappes brings together:
- 500 independent partner winemakers
- 1,500 wines available directly from the wineries
- 375 appellations 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 those who cultivate the vines with passion and pass down their knowledge from generation to generation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 several intermediaries, Les Grappes allows customers to order directly from partner wineries. Each bottle is shipped directly by the winemaker, ensuring the wines’ authenticity and fostering a more direct relationship with the people who make them.
| With Les Grappes | In a traditional distribution network |
|---|---|
| Purchasing directly from independent winemakers | Several intermediaries may be involved between the domain and the consumer |
| A selection of wineries chosen for the quality of their wines and their expertise | Offer tailored to the preferences of each retailer or wine merchant |
| Access to exclusive vintages or those produced in small quantities | The available models depend on the distribution networks |
| Exploring the history of the estates, terroirs, and producers | The information focuses primarily on the characteristics of the wines |
| A larger share of the value goes to the producer | Value is distributed among the various players in the distribution chain |
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 Commitments
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.
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 enabling them to sell their wines directly from their wineries.
By minimizing the number of intermediaries, we help strengthen the bond between producers and their customers, while showcasing each winemaker’s expertise.
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.
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 regions with a variety of practices—organic farming, biodynamic farming, sustainable viticulture, and environmental initiatives—so that everyone can choose wines that align with their beliefs and preferences.
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.
A shared passion: bringing winemakers and wine lovers together
Since our founding, we have championed a vision of wine based on closeness, trust, and sharing. By creating a direct link between wineries and consumers, we hope to help people discover a different way to buy wine—one that is more personal, more transparent, and more faithful to the work of the producers.
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.
This certification evaluates our entire business: our impact on our partner winemakers, the well-being of our teams, our governance, our environmental responsibility, and the way 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
Les Grappes allows you to buy wines directly from independent winemakers, while enjoying a carefully curated 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.
Les Grappes places the winemaker at the heart of its business model. Unlike platforms that operate primarily as distributors, we enable our partner wineries to sell their wines directly to wine enthusiasts. 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.
