DOMAINE SÉBASTIEN GIROUX, France

The estate crafts wines from the renowned appellations of Pouilly-Fuissé, Pouilly-Loché, and Mâcon-Loché. A family-run domaine with a winemaking legacy spanning over 300 years, it was taken over by Sébastien Giroux in 2009, following a career in motorsport mechanics. With a vision to modernise while honouring tradition, Sébastien has elevated the estate’s reputation for producing high-quality, terroir-driven Chardonnays at compelling value.

Viticulture

Key vineyard sites include “Les Belouses,” “Les Petites Bruyères,” “La Cadole,” “La Roche,” and the Premier Cru “Les Vignes Blanches,” along with a notable parcel in Pouilly-Loché, located in Loché itself. The estate has been farmed organically since 2019 and achieved full certification in 2022. Since 2021, biodynamic practices have also been applied to select plots. The focus remains firmly on expressing the unique character of each site—its soil, altitude, and exposure—through hands-on vineyard work and a philosophy of minimal intervention.

Winemaking

The wines undergo extended aging on the lees for 12 to 30 months—significantly longer than is typical in the Mâconnais—allowing for greater depth, complexity, and nuance. Grapes are meticulously hand-harvested, gently pressed, and fermented with indigenous yeasts. Most wines also undergo malolactic fermentation, maturing in a combination of stainless steel tanks and wooden barrels to balance purity with texture.