With the arrival of the next generation, Jean Michel decided to plant an additional 5 hectares of vines outside of the Côte-Rotie appellation together with his son Romain. They chose to plant a mix of the traditional grapes: Syrah, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier. There are five different vineyards in five different nearby villages - between Chasse-sur-Rhône and Roussillon. The Vin de France wines are all vinified sans soufre in tank with the same natural winemaking philosophy as the Côte-Rôtie, yet released in the spring after six months of aging.

Having vinified over 30 vintages of Côte-Rôtie, Jean-Michel Stephan is one of the true masters of natural winemaking in the Northern Rhône. His wines have a vivacious purity that make them instantly identifiable, marked by a balance of energy and transcendence that comes from a lifetime pursuit of his vision to craft flawless wines with absolutely no additives.