Ludovic “Lu” Lacourte: A Life in Wine, From Jura to Anderson Valley
For Ludovic “Lu” Lacourte, wine isn’t a career path — it’s a way of life.
Raised in Château-Chalon in France’s Jura region, where his family has been making wine for over a century, Lu grew up surrounded by vineyards, cellars, and the rhythms of harvest. Today, through Black Oak Ridge Wines, he brings that same philosophy to Anderson Valley and beyond—working in close partnership with winemaker G.W. Lussier to craft Pinot Noir rooted in place, patience, and connection.
Ahead of his debut at the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival, we sat down with Lu to learn more about his background, perspective, and what continues to inspire his work.
Ludovic “Lu” Lacourte: A Life Shaped by Wine
Q: Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to wine?
My path to wine wasn’t really a choice — it was simply who I am.
I grew up in Château-Chalon, a small village in France’s Jura region, where my family has been making wine for over a hundred years. As a child, the cellar, the vines, the rhythms of the harvest — these were just the fabric of everyday life.
You absorb it all before you even realize it’s shaping you.”
For Lu, wine has always been tied to something deeper:
“Walking down to the cellar with my grandfather to pull a couple of bottles for that day’s lunch, and then sitting over an exceptional French country meal—that’s the peak of human experience for me.
Ludovic “Lu” Lacourte: Why Pinot Noir
Q: What drew you specifically to Pinot Noir?
Pinot Noir, in many ways, chose me as much as I chose it.
It is, perhaps more than any other variety, a grape that is ruthlessly honest. It reflects its terroir with extraordinary transparency—the soil, the elevation, the climate, the farming philosophy—all of it shows up in the glass.”
Like the Savagnin wines of his upbringing, Pinot demands patience and respect:
“It rewards the winemaker who knows when to step back and simply listen to what the vineyard is telling you.
Ludovic “Lu” Lacourte: From Jura to California
Q: What makes Anderson Valley such a compelling place to work with Pinot Noir?
Lu founded Black Oak Ridge Wines with a clear vision:
“What led me here was really a desire to create that way of life in the United States… to apply the same values I learned in the Jura—respect for terroir, minimal intervention, and letting the vineyard speak.”
For him, this project is deeply personal:
“Black Oak Ridge is simply the next chapter of a story that started long before me.
Ludovic “Lu” Lacourte: The Right People, The Right Moment
Q: How did Black Oak Ridge come to life?
“Black Oak Ridge really came to life through connection—the right people, at the right moment, with a shared vision.”
Two relationships shaped the project:
- A grower farming with intention and respect for the land
- And winemaker G.W. Lussier
“G.W. shares the same philosophy I was raised with—that the winemaker’s role is to guide and encourage, not to impose and push.”
Ludovic “Lu” Lacourte: A Partnership Built on Philosophy
Q: How would you describe your collaboration with G.W. Lussier?
“Working with G.W. is honestly one of the great joys of this project.
From the very beginning, there was an immediate connection in values… we share the same fundamental belief—that our job is to serve the vineyard.”
Together, they bridge two worlds:
“I bring the old-world perspective shaped by generations of winemaking in the Jura, and G.W. brings a mastery of these California and Oregon terroirs.
Every vintage feels like a genuine conversation.”
Ludovic “Lu” Lacourte: Why Anderson Valley
Q: What is it about Anderson Valley that stands out to you?
“Anderson Valley is one of the most quietly extraordinary wine regions in the world.”
What draws him in is both the climate and the people:
“The combination of warm afternoon sun with sharp drops in temperature creates a growing environment of remarkable tension… the result is Pinot Noir with a freshness and vibrancy that you simply cannot engineer.”
But equally important:
“The growers there are deeply committed people who chose that valley because they wanted to farm with intention.”
What These Wines Are Really About
Q: What do you want people to understand about Black Oak Ridge wines?
“At its heart, Black Oak Ridge is about bringing people together around something beautiful.”
For Lu, wine is never just about the glass:
“It’s the table it’s poured at, the food it’s shared with, the conversations it unlocks.
I want the wine to be the backdrop to something meaningful.”
Ludovic “Lu” Lacourte: Looking Ahead to Pinot Fest
Q: What do you hope guests take away from the Pinot Noir Festival dinner?
Just being with passionate people who love Pinot Noir as much as we do.
Sharing a glass, meeting new people, and hopefully breaking some bread together. That’s really what it’s all about.
Join Us at the 2026 Pinot Noir Festival
Meet Ludovic Lacourte and experience Black Oak Ridge Wines alongside the growers and winemakers shaping Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.
Meet the winemakers, taste the vineyards, and explore what makes this region one of the most compelling places for Pinot Noir in the world.
Black Oak Ridge Ranch in Anderson Valley
“Lu” also built Black Oak Ridge Ranch, a 320 acres of wild woodlands and meadows nestled in the hills and Black Oaks above Boonville in the Anderson Valley. Reaching 1800ft at its peak and falling off to 800ft where Indian Creek runs through the property year round, the ranch’s undulating hills, plentiful water, exceptional soils and spectacular views, make it a rich playground for a remote country retreat and winery.
The Ranch is open for guests to book a STAY.
