Benoit Camus

Benoit Camus: a quiet force in southern Beaujolais, has spent nearly 20 years crafting distinctive, natural wines from his five hectares. Based around Ville‑sur‑Jarnioux, his estate covers four hectares split across eight parcels with a complex terroir of limestone, clay, granite and marl. Three and a half hectares are planted with old-vine Gamay, complemented by a small block of Chardonnay, producing wines that reflect the site’s mineral depth and rustic energy.

An energetic and hands‑on vigneron, Benoit lives in a caravan on one of his parcels—affectionately called “Château Roulant”—and tends the vineyards alone. He has worked in vineyards since his teens and harvested his first crop here in 2006. All vineyard work is done organically and by hand, prioritising sustainable, low‑intervention practices that protect vine health and terroir expression.

In the cellar, Benoit keeps winemaking deliberately simple: native fermentation and élevage in concrete tanks and cuves, with no additives at any stage. The result is pure, nourishing natural wines with honest Gamay character and a rustic, mineral backbone.

For years Benoit sold most of his production unlabelled, supplying friends and local négociants who bottled his wines under their own projects. Despite the modest approach, his wines stand out for their quality and authenticity. Benoit Camus represents the old‑school paysan vigneron—committed to sustainable farming and minimal intervention, focused on making natural Beaujolais that can be enjoyed by everyone.