The "Maison Joseph Drouhin" with its headquarters and winery in Beaune was founded in 1880 by Joseph Drouhin through the purchase of a wine trading house founded in 1756. Drouhin is still active in this segment today alongside wine production. The company has the exclusive right to market the wines of the Marquis de Laguiche (produced by Drouhin). His son Maurice Drouhin took over the company after the end of the First World War (1914-1918), orientated the company's quality policy towards high-class products and bought plots of land that were sold at very low prices due to the phylloxera disaster and the fungal diseases powdery and downy mildew. He joined the administrative commission of the Hospices de Beaune in 1925 and was its vice-president from 1941 to 1955.
Management of the company
The first purchase was a few hectares in the Premier Cru site Clos-des-Mouches (Beaune), from which a 1973 vintage took part in the famous Paris Wine Tasting in 1976. In the 1930s, a parcel in the famous walled (Clos) Grand Cru site Clos de Vougeot was acquired. After the early death of his father, Robert Drouhin (*1933) took over the business in 1957. He was one of the first in Burgundy to introduce the "culture raisonnée" (renunciation of pesticides and other chemicals) and set up an oenology laboratory. Today, the company is run by Joseph Drouhin's four great-grandchildren, who were born between 1961 and 1968. Since 2003, Fréderic Drouhin has been responsible for day-to-day operations and Philippe Drouhin for winemaking. Maison Joseph Drouhin is a member of the renowned family winery association PFV (Primum Familiae Vini).
Vineyard holdings
The extensive vineyard estate comprises a total of 100 hectares of vines in more than 160 appellations or Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites in the French region of Burgundy. These are spread from north to south in the Beaujolais, Chablis, Côte d'Or and Mâconnais areas. Grapes are also purchased from contractual partners. The vineyards are cultivated according to the rules of biodynamic viticulture. Gentle thinning and careful foliage care promote optimal ripening of the grapes. Diseases are prevented with herbal preparations if necessary. The ideal harvest date is determined by regular sampling.
Product range/appellations
The top products include red wines and white wines made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the following appellations, among others the Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites Bâtard-Montrachet(Montrachet), Bonnes-Mares(Chambolle-Musigny), Clos de Vougeot(Vougeot), Clos de Bèze(Gevrey-Chambertin), Clos-des-Mouches (Beaune), Corton-Charlemagne(Aloxe-Corton), Genevrières (Meursault), Givry, Grands Echézeaux(Flagey-Echézeaux), Les Clos(Chablis), Musigny(Chambolle-Musigny), Pommard, Pouilly-Fuissé, Puligny-Montrachet(Montrachet), Rully, Saint-Aubin, Saint-Romain, Saint-Véran(Mâconnais), Santenay and Vaudésier(Chablis). Around four million bottles are produced each year.
Route des Grands Crus
A day trip starting in Beaune is offered under this title. Four wines from plots between the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits are tasted and a lunch menu is served in a regional restaurant. The tour ends with a visit to a historic wine cellar dating back to the 13th century and a tasting of four wines.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon
In 1988, the "Domaine Drouhin Oregon" (DDO) was built in the Willamette Valley in the US state of Oregon for 10 million dollars. The wines are mainly made from the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varieties, as in Burgundy. The overseas operation is managed by Veronique Drouhin-Boss, the daughter of Robert Drouhin.
Pictures: copyright @josephdrouhin
