Julien Braud hails from the small village of Monnieres in the Sevre et Maine appellation of the Loire Valley. Today he owns just over seven hectares, with approximately five of them going in to his production. He began his winemaking career at his family's Domaine Fief aux Dames, where he worked through the 2011 vintage. In 2012, he ventured out on his own when he took over three hectares from his parents. His vision was to work in a way that highlighted the individual terroirs of the region and the heights to which Melon de Bourgogne could be taken. Julien is bucking the trend in the area and represents the new guard of young and incredibly talented winemakers. He is organically certified and incorporates biodynamics. Horses are used throughout the vineyards and all grapes are hand harvested with only natural yeasts used for fermentation. The wines age on their lees in glass-lined, underground cement vats.