Domaine Jean Monnier & Fils

Domaine Jean Monnier & Fils - since 1720

The Monnier family has been growing wine in Meursault since 1720. The craft has always passed from father to son. Today, the family with father Jean-Claude and son Nicolas cultivates 16 hectares of vines. A special feature of the winery is that it is one of the few on the Côte de Meursault to produce both red and white wines. The old cellars of the family are still standing and are still used as such.

Meursault and Burgundy

Meursault is located in Burgundy, one of the most famous wine-growing regions of France. As mentioned before, mostly white wines come from here, with small exceptions like the Monnier family. Interestingly, the Côte de Beaune sub-appellation is only approved for red wine made from Pinot Noir. Otherwise, the Chardonnay grape variety dominates the vineyards. On average, more than 17000 hl of white wine are produced every year, but only a little more than 400 hl of red wine.

There are about 450 hectares of vineyards in the Meursault appellation, of which 133 hectares are Premier Cru, spread over 18 different sites. The climate in Burgundy is continental, with cold winters and short summers. Therefore, mainly early ripening grape varieties are grown in Burgundy.

Geology of Burgundy

The soils are basically limestone and marl, then depending on the sub-region, different influences can be found such as:

• Slate
• Granite
• Clay

The Côte d'Or, where Jean Monnier's vineyards are located, is mainly dominated by limestone.

Burgundy benefits from an approximately 200 km long steep slope, which runs right through the region and has a south-easterly orientation. This ensures optimal sun exposure on these slopes.

Domaine Jean Monnier & Fils produces a wide range of wines, 6 of which come from Premier Cru sites. There are wines that can be drunk young, as well as wines with aging potential.