Domaine Sainte Barbe

The Chaland family's Chardonnay vineyards cover 8.2 hectares in the villages of Viré and Montbellet. They are divided into 25 plots across three appellations: Viré-Clessé (5.7 ha), Mâcon-Villages (2 ha) and Mâcon (0.5 ha). Since the 2012 vintage, the Chalands also cultivate 80 ares of old vine Gamay in the Mâcon-Burgy appellation.

Jean-Marie’s philosophy is straightforward: keep everything simple and transparent, and the result in the bottle will shine. Since his grandfather took the family vines back from the cooperative in 1967 and officially founded the domaine, the vineyards have been organic and 100% chemical-free. Once Jean-Marie took over in 2000, he began the process of obtaining certification, and since 2006, the entire estate has been certified organic.

Old vines, 50 to 100 years of age, make up 75% of the domaine's vineyards as the depth and complexity of flavour these vines provide cannot be replicated. All work is done by hand, and interventionist cellar tactics are kept to an absolute minimum. Only small amounts of sulfur are added during ageing. Whites are vinified in a combination of steel and ceramic tanks, and a small percentage of oak for the top cuvées. The reds are raised in neutral barrels, with the only new oak in the cellar being those purchased to replace old barrels in need of retirement.