Drouhin-Vaudon
Summary
Drouhin-Vaudon is the 38-hectare Chablis estate of historic Burgundian house Joseph Drouhin, producing Chardonnay-based wines across all appellation levels from vineyards rooted in the region's distinctive Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Their winemaking philosophy emphasizes minimal intervention with primarily stainless steel fermentation, extended lees aging, and certified organic viticulture to create precise, mineral-driven expressions that faithfully reflect Chablis' traditional character.
Heritage & Leadership
Drouhin-Vaudon represents the Chablis estate of Joseph Drouhin, a Burgundy house established in 1880 when Joseph Drouhin, a 22-year-old from the Chablis region, founded his négociant business in Beaune. The Drouhin family's connection to Chablis strengthened significantly in 1968 when Robert Drouhin, Joseph's grandson, made the strategic decision to acquire vineyards in the region. The estate derives its hyphenated name from the historic Moulin de Vaudon, an 18th-century watermill that serves as the property's headquarters, situated at the junction of the Serein River and the Premier Cru vineyards.
Today, the fourth generation of the Drouhin family guides the estate's operations. Frédéric Drouhin serves as President, overseeing business operations, while his sister Véronique Drouhin-Boss directs winemaking activities. Philippe Drouhin manages the vineyards, and Laurent Drouhin focuses on the North American market development. This family leadership maintains continuity while adapting to modern market demands and environmental challenges.
Vineyards & Wines
Drouhin-Vaudon's vineyard holdings span approximately 38 hectares across the Chablis appellation, making it one of the larger family-owned estates in the region. Their parcels include vineyards in several classifications, from Petit Chablis to Grand Cru sites. The estate owns plots in the Grand Cru vineyards of Les Clos, Vaudésir, and Bougros, as well as several Premier Cru sites including Montée de Tonnerre, Mont de Milieu, and Vaillons.
The vineyards sit on the region's characteristic Kimmeridgian limestone soils, composed of fossilized oyster shells and marine sediments that date back to the Upper Jurassic period. This soil composition contributes the distinctive minerality for which Chablis is known. All vineyards are planted exclusively with Chardonnay, with vine ages ranging from 20 to 45 years. The vineyards face predominantly southeast and southwest, at elevations between 150 and 200 meters above sea level, allowing for optimal sun exposure while maintaining the cool climate influence essential for Chablis' characteristic acidity.
Philosophy & Practice
Drouhin-Vaudon has committed to organic and biodynamic viticulture across its estate, receiving official organic certification from ECOCERT. The vineyard management follows biodynamic principles, with treatments based on plant infusions and natural composts rather than synthetic chemicals. Manual harvesting is practiced for all Premier and Grand Cru vineyards to ensure only the highest quality grapes are selected.
In the winery, Drouhin-Vaudon employs a minimalist approach to preserve the terroir expression. Fermentation occurs primarily in stainless steel tanks, with temperature control to maintain freshness and aromatic purity. For select Premier and Grand Cru wines, partial fermentation and aging may take place in oak barrels, typically older oak to avoid overwhelming the wine with wood flavors. The estate practices extended lees aging for many of its wines, typically 8-12 months for village-level wines and 12-18 months for Premier and Grand Cru bottlings.
The winemaking philosophy centers on expressing the unique characteristics of each vineyard site while maintaining the classic Chablis profile of precision, minerality, and tension. Malolactic fermentation is allowed to occur naturally, and filtration is kept to a minimum before bottling to preserve the wine's natural character and aging potential.