Domaine Chapoutier – A Living Legacy of the Rhône Valley Since 1808

A Historic Estate Turned Global Icon

Founded in 1808 in Tain-l'Hermitage, Maison M. Chapoutier is one of the most prestigious and respected names in the Rhône Valley. A family-owned estate for over seven generations, it has earned global acclaim for its philosophy of authentic terroir expression combined with forward-thinking innovation.

In 1990, Michel Chapoutier took over the family estate and initiated a profound qualitative transformation: the conversion to biodynamic farming, ultra-precise single-vineyard vinifications, and an international expansion strategy. His pioneering vision has positioned Chapoutier among the world’s most respected wine producers.

An Exceptional Vineyard Heritage

Chapoutier is today the largest private landholder on Hermitage Hill, with legendary lieux-dits including:

• Le Méal

• Les Bessards

• L’Ermite

• Les Greffieux

The celebrated La Sizeranne is an assemblage of several of these lieux-dits, not a single plot, and stands as a perfect illustration of Hermitage’s balance between power, structure, and elegance.

The estate also cultivates vines in the Rhône’s greatest appellations:

• Northern Rhône: Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas

• Southern Rhône: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Tavel

With more than 350 hectares of vineyards, most farmed biodynamically, Chapoutier is the largest biodynamic wine estate in private ownership worldwide.

Pioneering Biodynamics and Exemplary Viticulture

Michel Chapoutier was among the first major figures to adopt biodynamics in France in the early 1990s.
His approach is built on:

• Strict respect for natural cycles

• Natural, chemical-free treatments

• Preservation of biodiversity in the vineyards

• Manual vineyard work and no herbicides or synthetic fertilizers

Harvests are 100% hand-picked, with rigorous sorting to ensure perfectly healthy, ripe fruit.

A unique feature of the estate: since 1996, every Chapoutier label has been printed in Braille, in homage to a blind friend of Michel’s — a groundbreaking, inclusive innovation in the world of fine wine.

Winemaking and Style

Chapoutier champions single-vineyard vinification, aiming to reveal each terroir in its purest form.

• Natural fermentations with indigenous yeasts

• Long macerations for reds

• Thoughtful oak aging (often in new barrels for top cuvées)

• Minimal intervention during bottling

The Chapoutier style is distinctive:

• Reds (Syrah): intense aromatics, structure, depth, and remarkable age-worthiness.

• Whites (Marsanne, Roussanne): tension, mineral drive, precision, and harmony.

Many Chapoutier wines have been awarded perfect 100-point scores by Robert Parker and remain benchmarks of the Rhône Valley.

Iconic Cuvées

• Hermitage “La Sizeranne” – A historic blend of lieux-dits, elegant and balanced.

• Côte-Rôtie “La Mordorée” – Noble, spicy, complex and finely structured.

• Ermitage “Le Méal” – Deep, structured, built for long aging.

• Ermitage “L’Ermite” – One of the estate’s rarest and most sought-after wines.

• Ermitage Blanc “De l’Orée” – Legendary Marsanne with exceptional aging potential.

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Bernardine” – A Rhône classic.

Michel Chapoutier: A Vision Rooted in Terroir

Charismatic and visionary, Michel Chapoutier has become a leading figure in the global wine world.
His credo — “let the earth speak” — reflects his uncompromising commitment to authenticity. Under his leadership, the estate has risen to the top of the fine wine world, while remaining true to its artisanal family heritage.

Key Facts

• Founded: 1808

• Director: Michel Chapoutier (since 1990)

• Surface: 350 ha (majority biodynamic)

• Key appellations: Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Cornas, Crozes-Hermitage, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Tavel

• Main grape varieties: Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache

• Innovation: Braille labels since 1996

A Signature of Terroir and Excellence

Maison M. Chapoutier embodies the essence of the Rhône Valley: authenticity, precision, and power. Each cuvée translates its terroir with striking clarity, offering wine lovers and collectors long-lived, profound, and world-class expressions of Rhône excellence.