Tino Kuban is a young and dynamic producer from Berlin with a deep passion for wine. In 2018, at the age of 30, Kuban took over Bernard van Berg’s estate, located in Meursault. Having obtained a Viti-Oeno diploma in Germany, he gained experience in viticulture across the four corners of the world, including at some of the most renowned French natural wine estates (Dard & Ribo, Pierre Overnoy, Domaine de la Tournelle, Philippe Bornard); he even gave the estate the charming name we know today, Les Jardins Vivants, which translates to The Lively Gardens in English.
He cultivates 1.5 hectares of vines in the heart of Burgundy. Yields remain low with under 10hl/ha with no more 4 bunches per vine. The teams pass through the vineyards on several different day to harvest the grapes in the cool of the morning, guaranteeing high-quality fruits. The soil is only lightly worked to avoid compacting the soil, and the vines are pruned short, but the winegrower does not strip the leaves.
In the cellar, vinification is executed as naturally as possible: with whole bunches, vertical pressure, relying on spontaneous fermentation and allowing gravity to do all the work. The wine is bottled by hand, without racking. The wines produced by this estate were an instant success thanks to their high standard, precision and finesse.
Tino Kuban has also set up a small, high-quality merchant business under the name
Maison Glandien..