A common refrain in our articles is to emphasize the patchwork quilt of family growers that cultivate the vines of Burgundy’s hills and valleys, and the sense of history that ties them together.

Behind every bottle of wine we sell, there is the story of the winemakers who put it together: someone who plants and replaces the grapevines, who tends the canopy through the hot summer months, who makes the judgment on when to harvest and who supervises vinification of the grape juice over many months and years.

Many of these stories do not begin when the bottle arrives, but reach far back into the past. Beyond the pleasure of a lovely bottle of Burgundy, one of the great delights of the region is that when we drink that bottle, we tie ourselves into that tapestry, becoming a part of the story.

But in order to feel that sense of history, it helps to know the story behind the bottle! In honor of making those stories known, we’re starting a short series of articles to share the stories of some of our closest partner producers in Burgundy, starting with our friends at Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine.

The Family

Nestled in the small village of Pernand-Vergelesses at the center of the Côte d’Or, sits Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine, just as it has for more than a hundred years.

Founded in 1879 by Pierre Arbinet, the domaine has persevered through a great depression, two world wars, the inception of France’s appellation system, and countless other events of historic significance.

Over the years, succeeding generations have contributed to the gradual expansion and development of the vineyards and estate, culminating in the construction of a new winery and 3-tiered cellar in 1985.

In 2019, that baton was passed on to Clémentine Gruère-Dubreuil, who took on joint management of the vineyards in partnership with her mother Christine. Like those who came before her, Clémentine has lived and breathed winemaking from a young age, and is now benefiting from her mother’s more than 20 years management of the estate.

Having grown up among the vineyards of Dubreuil-Fontaine, Clémentine is the inheritor of a passion for winemaking passed down through six generations.

The Philosophy

Clémentine is also the inheritor of the Dubreuil-Fontaine’s family motto, “Le plaisir et la passion se poursuivent.”

There are a few ways of translating it, but our personal favorite is “pleasure and passion follow one another.”

For Clémentine and her mother, that motto is expressed through a winemaking philosophy dedicated to blending the best of tradition, terroir expression, and meticulous technique – an approach that perfectly encapsulates the artisan spirit of Burgundy winemakers.

This means that in all cases, the wine is kept as natural as possible, with only minor interventions like temperature regulation to preserve fruit and respect the spirit of the terroir. Harvesting and sorting are carried out by hand, with the grapes checked upon arrival at the domaine to ensure quality, and wines are aged in varying proportions of new oak depending on appellation.

“The best of modernity and respect of tradition permit a full expression of the Burgundian terroir.” -Domaine Dubreuil Fontaine

The Wine

The village of Pernand-Vergelesses lies at the intersection of two valleys in the Côte de Beaune, and is known for producing a range of excellent red and white wines. Most of the vineyards are east and south-facing, leading to plenty of sunlight for rich and flavorful Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.

While many of Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine’s vines are located in Pernand-Vergelesses, they also cultivate vineyards from some of the most prestigious appellations in Burgundy, such as Aloxe-Corton, Pommard, Beaune and Volnay.

The domaine uses environmentally friendly cultivation methods with the aim of producing a rich, healthy harvest, ensuring the sustainability of the soil, and preserving the vineyards for generations to come.

For a full list of Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine wines you can expect to see in our newsletter offers, visit their page on our website by clicking here!

A History of Winemaking Excellence

For almost 150 years, the Dubreuil-Fontaine estate has been engaged in a pursuit of winemaking excellence. Knowledge, tradition, and a deeply held winemaking philosophy have been passed down from generation to generation.

Each of these generations has imparted their own bit of passion, knowledge, and love of wine, weaving their own strands into the story of the Dureuil-Fontaine estate and the surrounding regions.

This family history is emblematic of Burgundy’s winemaking tradition, a tradition that seeks to elevate terroir, produce authentic expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and use the best of techniques to bring out the best in the wine.