Domaine Henri Gouges, Nuits St George 1er Cru Les Vaucrains, Burgundy, France, 2023

Producer Profile

Henri Gouges began shaping the future of his domaine shortly after World War I, when he inherited 9ha of prime vineyards in Nuits-St-Georges.

Between 1920 and 1934, he expanded his holdings significantly. Today, the estate spans 14.5ha, including seven exceptionally well positioned Premier Cru sites. A pioneer in estate bottling, Henri Gouges was among the first in Burgundy – alongside notable names like Marquis d’Angerville – to begin bottling and marketing his wines directly in 1933. He was also deeply committed to low yields and strict vineyard management – principles that remain central to the domaine’s philosophy under the stewardship of his descendants. Now run by the third and fourth generations – Pierre and Christian Gouges, Pierre’s son Gregory, and most recently Antoine, who leads the winemaking – the domaine continues to uphold its tradition of producing structured, terroir-driven Nuits-St- Georges. In 1977, the family introduced rye grass cover crops between the vines – an innovation that has proved highly beneficial for soil health and biodiversity in the vineyards.

Since 2008, the vineyards have been managed organically, and a modern cuverie has been in place since 2007. Winemaking at Domaine Henri Gouges remains traditional and meticulous.