Mai & Kenji Hodgson

Mai & Kenji Hodgson's venture into viticulture began unexpectedly: Kenji, initially pursuing a career as a wine writer, found himself in Japan for an internship. It was there that he crossed paths with a winemaker advocating for natural winemaking, and his introduction to French natural wines ignited his passion.

Upon returning to Canada, Kenji met Mai in Vancouver, with whom he shared an enthusiasm for natural wines. Initially planning to acquire vineyards in Canada, their direction changed when winemaker mentor Mark Angeli suggested purchasing land in Anjou, France.

Their vineyards are located in Rablay-sur-Layon, in Loire, and boast characteristic shale and schist soils. Over the last decade, they've nurtured about 4 hectares of vineyards. Their approach is simple, prioritising structure, elegance, and power while maintaining energy and fruitfulness.

Working with grape varieties like Grolleau and Chenin Blanc, they craft limited quantities of wines.