Portraits of winemakers

CHÂTEAU CHARDONNAY

Discovering Château Chardonnay: A Legacy and Revival

The Origins of Chardonnay

When we hear the term "Chardonnay," the first thing that comes to mind is undoubtedly the famous white grape variety originating from Burgundy. Indeed, while this grape variety has undoubtedly spread worldwide to become the second most planted white grape in the world, the village that gave it its name is far less known. Located in the heart of the Mâconnais vineyard in Burgundy, Château Chardonnay is here to bring the spotlight back to the village of Chardonnay, the birthplace of this world-renowned grape.

Dating back to the 15th century, Château Chardonnay once served as the village's tinailler, a term used for places dedicated to storing vats, presses, and other essential equipment for harvest and winemaking. Initially owned by the church and later by Burgundian lords, Château Chardonnay was a central place for harvesting and village life over the centuries.

Château Chardonnay: The Revival of a Historic Estate

While Château Chardonnay has long been a landmark in the village and has always cultivated vines, it had never truly produced its own wine! Like many local vintners, Château Chardonnay previously sold its production to the cooperative cellar.

This is why Romain Poncet, whose family owned Château Chardonnay, decided to embark on a new adventure with his childhood friend Jean-Christophe Taboulot (also a winemaker) and his partner Jheriko Sevely to create their own estate. In 2019, this exciting project came to fruition with the establishment of Château Chardonnay. This story of friendship in a unique location aims to highlight their village and its terroirs while practicing environmentally respectful agriculture.

Château Chardonnay: A Prime Terroir

Today, Château Chardonnay boasts nearly 12 hectares of vineyards, predominantly planted with Chardonnay (80%), although the estate also grows Aligoté and Gamay. With its clay-limestone soils, Château Chardonnay benefits from an ideal terroir for producing white wines that combine freshness with minerality. The use of high-quality oak barrels also imparts great length and complexity to the estate’s wines.

Looking to the future, the three friends aim to continue developing the estate, particularly through wine tourism. Indeed, few winemakers in the commune open their doors to tourists, who are increasingly eager to learn more about the region's history and Chardonnay. However, as you might have guessed, on Avenue des Vins, you don’t need to visit to enjoy the wines of Château Chardonnay!