DOMAINE DARVIOT-PERRIN, France
Geneviève's father, Pierre Perrin, was a renowned figure in Meursault and Volnay winemaking circles. The domaine spans 11 hectares across prestigious Burgundy communes, including Meursault, Volnay, Chassagne-Montrachet, Monthelie, Pommard, and Beaune. In 2019, Didier's son, Pierre-Antonin Darviot, took over the winemaking duties after a distinguished career in the French Foreign Office. He is the 10th generation of the family to lead the estate and has since transitioned the domaine to certified organic farming, with certification achieved in 2022
Viticulture
Domaine Darviot-Perrin practices biodynamic viticulture, incorporating natural herbal teas and organic compost to enhance soil health and vine vitality. The estate's vineyards are ploughed, and no insecticides or weedkillers are used. The average age of the vines is 60 years, with some exceeding 90 years, contributing to low yields and concentrated fruit. Hand-harvesting ensures only the best grapes reach the cellar, maintaining the integrity of the fruit.
Winemaking
For red wines, grapes are nearly 100% destemmed and undergo cold maceration for 5–6 days. Fermentation occurs at controlled temperatures, with gentle extraction techniques to preserve fruit purity. The cuvaison lasts 8 days for Chassagne and 15–17 days for Volnay. White wines are pressed as whole bunches, undergo a 24-hour debourbage, and ferment using indigenous yeasts in barrels at 18–20°C. All wines are aged in 228-litre oak barrels for 12 months, followed by 7 months in vats, with approximately 15% new oak used.
- Achieved organic certification in 2022, with practices rooted in biodynamic principles.
- Emphasis on healthy, ripe grapes and gentle vinification to express the true character of each terroir.
- Vines averaging 60 years old, with some over 90 years, resulting in low yields and concentrated, expressive wines.
