Le Saulnois, the land of Moselle salt, a central hub for trade and commerce in Europe, was covered by more than 550 hectares of vineyards in the 19th century, and only a few hectares by 1950.

An exceptional terroir: The Seille Valley lies on sedimentary soils dating back to the Triassic and Jurassic periods (early Mesozoic Era, 220 to 180 million years ago), overlooking a vast salt deposit tilted westward and gradually sinking beneath the Paris Basin. During the Triassic, the Tethys Ocean covered part of Europe, under a tropical climate that favored the formation of shallow lagoons, leading to the deposition and crystallization of salt contained in seawater. These salt lenses, or evaporites, were later covered during various geological eras by clay-limestone deposits known as marls. This deposit slowly shifted westward following tectonic movements related to the emergence of the Alps and the uplift of the Vosges Massif. A unique feature of Saulnois: the salt layer lies less than 50 meters below the surface.

The vineyard’s revival was launched four years ago by a core group of passionate and determined young winemakers, who have resolutely contributed, like the pioneers of the previous generation, to restoring Saulnois’s central role in European trade.

The Ferme de Vignes estate was established ex novo in 2023, located between Marsal and Vic-sur-Seille, communes within the Moselle AOC and Lorraine IGP. Since 2023, 2.7 hectares have been planted. The first harvests from the new plantings are expected in September 2025.

• Managed organically with agroforestry practices, benefiting from natural regeneration zones of former hillside farmland, as well as long hedgerows and large trees at the heart of the plots.

• Traditional, gentle, and natural winemaking, without intervention.

• Red wines undergo maceration and aging in bee-wax-lined qvevris, buried underground, producing full-bodied, fruity, and velvety wines.

Goal for 2026: 4 hectares!