Wines and spirits Pays du Châtillonnais

Anne and Sylvain Bouhélier and their son Paul offer an unrivalled welcome in their cellar, which has been converted into a winemaker's museum, providing a wealth of information on the history of Crémant du Châtillonnais. In summer and by appointment the rest of the year, they take you to the heart of their vineyards to discover the hillsides, the grape varieties and the winemaker's work. The 7.5 ha of sustainable vineyards are spread over 6 villages. Choose from 5 cuvées of Crémant, a Burgundy, red, white or rosé, a ratafia and an old marc distilled on the estate.

Alain Gillon, a farmer from the Châtillonnais region, started out in viticulture in 1995 with his brother Patrick. Julien and Romain, their respective sons, took over the reins of the family domaine, investing heavily. The estate is set in a superb location, in the heart of the village and on the banks of the Seine, and comprises just over 9 hectares of vines. Always on the lookout for something new, the owners are currently vinifying a Crémant blanc de noir and an oak-aged white wine, both of which will be available in 2025.

Domaine Jean Girard, in Belan-sur-Ource, embodies the story of a successful transition. Initially a farmer, Jean Girard took up viticulture in the 1990s. With his daughter Sylvie, trained at the Beaune winegrowers' school, they passionately cultivate 4 ha 55 of vines. The harvest is hand-picked and vinified on the estate using traditional Burgundian methods. The wines, AOC Bourgogne pinot noir or chardonnay, reveal a complex palette, aged in oak barrels. The highly original crémant rosé and the 6 cuvées make for an enchanting tasting experience. An estate worth discovering!

Domaine Cailletet Père et fils will soon operate 20 hectares of vineyards in Bouix, within the limits of Burgundy and Champagne appellations.

More than 25,000 bottles are produced each year, in Crémants rosé, pure Chardonnay or composed of a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The recent vat installed in the farm's buildings has a press and new vinification vats capable of producing 80,000 bottles, making Domaine Cailletet one of the most important in the Chatillonnais region. Jean-Marie or his son Cédric welcomes you in the cellar. Discover the jewel of the house, "Les délices de Jules et Lalie", a blend aged on slats for 48 months and pampered throughout its evolution. The bottle is sold for € 9, compared to € 6.50 for the vintage Tradition, the taste ²of Champagne is not far away! The estate, which has received several awards in the Hachette and Gilbert & Gaillard guides, also sells its products online.

Are you looking for Crémant rosé or Chardonnay, or even a still wine from the Burgundy appellation? Visit Roland and Christelle Van Hecke, who will be delighted to welcome you to their cellar in Grancey-sur-Ource. Roland Van Hecke vinifies and handles his Crémants himself in a winery modernized in 2018, making his operation HVE1. The vineyards cover 6 ha on the slopes of Gomméville. Thanks to the excellent 2023 harvest, the estate is now producing 25,000 bottles. Several Crémants have won awards.

Now, the vineyard of the Guilleman estate covers 4.25 ha facing south-south-east. Trained at Viti de Beaune, Fabien Guilleman is now the head of this estate well equipped with working tools. Behind the facade of the family house, there is a farmyard where the winery and the cellar are optimally installed. Crémant and still wines are pressed, vinified and handled at the estate which has a cellar that can accommodate 50 people. On site are held tastings, presentation of the area history and some indications on the town of Marcenay where the Saint Vorles history begins. Currently 8,000 bottles are sold in the estate while the remaining grapes are purchased by traders on the spot. The range of crémants is complete: Tradition 60% of Pinot, Blanc de blanc, Blanc de noir, Tradition (aged in oak barrels) and Élégance, a blend of 50/50 Pinot/Chardonnay. As for the country wine, the estate now offers a Pinot gris. Great news for lovers of aromatic white wines!

The Chatillonnais stands out as the Crémant of Burgundy land par excellence and Ghislain Brigand wishes to transmit his passion and his curiosity about the wine. His estate has existed since 1902 and it is particularly well known. It stretches over 10 ha, exhibited in the southern slopes, the development of sparkling wine is on 8 hectares. Karine, the wine of Ghislain, joined the exploitation in 2007. As a real cook, she is interested in gastronomy and will provide you with good advice for preparing dishes based on crémant. The estate has obtained the certification "Haute Valeur Environnementale", a reward for the effort made to protect the environment. There are about seven different crémants. Special wines are also available: old vintage, ancestral vintage, semi-dry… You can also buy wines (red, white or rosé) at very reasonable price. A little plus: in the shop, the glass engraving workshop allows you to personalise drinks and bottles. Ghislain Brigand welcomes you and makes you share his passion for the vineyards. He is also the creator of the Ampélopsis museum on the wine production and the growth stage of vines. You should not miss it!

Pierre Rousseau and his son Francis cultivate and vinify two grape varieties: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on 4.5 ha for the crémants and 1 ha for the still wines. The wines are made in the purest tradition from the cultivation of the grapes to the bottling. Do not hesitate to make an appointment to visit their estate, taste their wines and understand everything about their know-how. The landscape is magnificent, the winegrowers are friendly and the wines are very good!