Domaine François Villard

Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône

A chef turned sommelier turned wine producer, François Villard is, as he says himself, a first-generation wine producer. A latecomer to the profession and starting completely from scratch, he has created everything: his wine domaine, his vineyards, his winery and his acclaimed style of very fine, taut and mineral wines.
As for his character, it remains unchanged. François, now approaching his sixties, puts it bluntly: “I’m not at the end of my winemaking life! And there’s no age limit for taking on new challenges“. Having just completed the process of obtaining organic certification for the entire domaine, he is now expanding his facilities and replanting in La Côte-Saint-André. “That’s where I was born. I’ll never see these vines grow old. I’m planting them for future generations.” Although he is not yet talking about stepping down, this young grandfather with an encyclopaedic memory is starting to imagine what the domaine might look like when he has gone. “I’d like to leave my mark on history. In the new building, I display the vintages I’ve kept since 1995… My whole life, stored away here!“

Vineyards

19.76 ha of reds: AOC CÔTE-RÔTIE, SAINT JOSEPH, VIN DE PAYS DES COLLINES RHODANIENNES. 21.68 ha of whites: AOC CONDRIEU, SAINT JOSEPH, SAINT PÉRAY, VIN DE PAYS DES COLLINES RHODANIENNES, supplemented by the purchase of grapes.

Cellar

REDS: Vinification in wooden and stainless steel vats according to the origin of the grapes. Minimal de-stemming, whole bunch vinification carried out whenever possible, native yeasts, 12 to 20 months of ageing in Burgundy barrels and wooden vats • WHITES: Vinification and ageing in Burgundy barrels and foudres for 10 to 18 months, native yeasts, weekly stirring of the lees (bâtonnage) for around 6 months.

Wines

REDS: CÔTE-RÔTIE • Le Gallet Blanc, La Brocarde • SAINT JOSEPH • Poivre et Sol, Mairlant, Reflet, Gran Reflet • CROZES HERMITAGE • Certitude • Malfondieres  • CORNAS • Jouvet • VIN DE PAYS DES COLLINES RHODANIENNES Syrah Seyssuel • Seul en Scène • VIN DE PAYS DES COLLINES RHODANIENNES Syrah • l’Appel des Sereines • WHITES : CONDRIEU • Les Terrasses du Palat, Le Grand Vallon, Deponcins, Villa Pontciana, Viognier • SAINT JOSEPH • Mairlant, Fruit d’Avilleran Marsanne, Roussanne • SAINT PÉRAY – Version, Version Longue Marsanne, Roussanne • CROZES HERMITAGE • Cour de Récré Marsanne, Roussanne • VIN DE PAYS DES COLLINES RHODANIENNES Les Contours de Mairlant • Viognier Les Contours de Deponcins.