William Fevre, Domaine
Summary
Domaine William Fevre Chile is a French-founded winery operating in Chile's Maipo Valley, focusing primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère grown in gravelly soils with cooling influences from the Andes Mountains. Their winemaking bridges Old and New World approaches through temperature-controlled fermentation and French oak aging, maintaining a Burgundian commitment to site-specific expression while adapting techniques to showcase Chile's distinctive terroir.
Heritage & Leadership
William Fevre, the renowned Chablis winemaker, expanded his viticultural horizons to Chile in the early 1990s, establishing a winemaking operation in the Maipo Valley. This Chilean venture represents a distinct enterprise from his original Domaine William Fevre in Chablis, France, which was founded in 1959. The Chilean project emerged during a period when many European winemakers were exploring the potential of South American terroirs.
The Chilean operation functions independently from the Burgundian domaine, which was acquired by the Henriot family in 1998. While the Chablis property focuses exclusively on Chardonnay, the Chilean venture allowed Fevre to work with a broader palette of grape varieties suited to South American growing conditions. The Chilean winery produces wines under the William Fevre label, maintaining a connection to Fevre's winemaking heritage while developing an identity specific to its South American context.
Vineyards & Wines
The William Fevre Chile vineyards are situated in the Maipo Valley, one of Chile's most historic wine regions. The operation focuses primarily on red varieties well-suited to the warm climate of central Chile, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in the gravelly soils of Maipo. The vineyards benefit from the region's Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and cooling influences from the Andes Mountains.
The Chilean portfolio includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, and other varieties adapted to the local terroir. These wines reflect both Fevre's Burgundian heritage of terroir-focused winemaking and an adaptation to Chilean viticultural conditions. The wines are produced to express the distinctive character of their Maipo Valley origins while maintaining the precision and attention to detail that characterizes the Fevre approach to winemaking.
Philosophy & Practice
The winemaking philosophy at William Fevre Chile bridges Old World tradition with New World innovation. The approach emphasizes respectful vineyard management practices that allow for the optimal expression of the Maipo Valley terroir. In the winery, traditional techniques are combined with modern technology to produce wines that balance fruit expression with structure and complexity.
The red wines typically undergo fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks followed by aging in French oak barrels, a practice that reflects both Burgundian tradition and international winemaking standards. This careful oak integration adds complexity while allowing the fruit character to remain prominent. The production methods aim to create wines that are approachable upon release yet possess the structure for medium-term aging. Throughout the winemaking process, the focus remains on producing wines that authentically represent their Chilean origin while honoring the winemaking principles established by William Fevre in Burgundy.