Domaine de Villaine
Domaine de Villaine is located in Bouzeron, in the Côte Chalonnaise, between Chassagne-Montrachet and Santenay. The vines of this vineyard date back to the Middle Ages, when the monks of Cluny carefully planted them in a sunny valley. In doing so, they laid the foundations for a centuries-old tradition centred on the terroir.
When the monks left the valley, it fell into disrepair until Aubert de Villaine and his American wife Pamela revitalised it in the 1970s. Heir to and co-director of the famous Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Vosne-Romanée, Aubert decided to settle in peaceful Bouzeron. Despite his busy work schedule on the Côte de Nuits, he found time to make wine here. Years of studying this unique terroir made him and his wife Pamela pioneers in one of Burgundy’s last forgotten enclaves. The most unusual grape variety grown here is Aligoté – not just any variety, but the star of Bouzeron, the only official Aligoté appellation.
In 2010, Aubert was awarded the prestigious ‘Man of the Year’ award by Decanter Magazine – an honour that, modest as he is, he would rather not have received. Today, his nephew Pierre de Benoist runs the estate with the same dedication to tradition and excellence.
Organic viticulture is at the centre of Domaine de Villaine. No pesticides or herbicides are used and fertilisation is limited to organic compost. This guarantees healthy grapes of the highest quality. The estate produces a wonderful selection of wines: Bouzeron, Bourgogne C̫te Chalonnaise, Rully, Rully Cru and Mercurey. All elegant Burgundy wines with finesse and character Рa pleasure to drink.
