Thierry Violot-Guillemard
Summary
Domaine Thierry Violot-Guillemard is a small family estate in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune, farming 5 hectares of predominantly Pinot Noir vineyards across Pommard and Beaune Premier Cru sites with mature vines rooted in iron-rich clay and limestone soils. Their deliberately limited production of under 25,000 bottles annually employs traditional methods including partial whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, and minimal intervention throughout the winemaking process, with all vineyard work performed meticulously by hand.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine Thierry Violot-Guillemard is a small family estate located in the village of Pommard in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune. The domaine was established when Thierry Violot-Guillemard took over vineyard parcels from his father-in-law, Jean Guillemard, in the early 1990s. Thierry, who began working in the vineyards at age 14, brought together his viticultural experience and the Guillemard family's holdings to create the current domaine.
The estate remains firmly in family hands, with Thierry and his wife Joëlle managing operations. Their son Thomas has increasingly taken on responsibilities in both the vineyard and cellar, representing the next generation of this family enterprise. The domaine maintains a deliberately small scale, allowing for meticulous attention to their parcels across several appellations in the Côte de Beaune.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine Thierry Violot-Guillemard manages approximately 5 hectares of vineyards spread across several appellations in the Côte de Beaune. Their holdings include parcels in Pommard, Beaune, and Meursault. In Pommard, they cultivate vines in the Premier Cru sites of Les Rugiens and Les Epenots, with additional village-level plots. Their Beaune holdings include the Premier Cru vineyards of Clos des Mouches and Les Choucheaux.
The domaine's vineyards are planted predominantly to Pinot Noir, with smaller portions dedicated to Chardonnay, particularly in their Meursault parcels. Many of their vines are mature, with some parcels exceeding 50 years of age. The soils in their Pommard vineyards feature the appellation's characteristic iron-rich clay and limestone composition, while their Beaune parcels contain varying proportions of limestone, marl, and clay depending on the specific site.
The domaine produces a range of wines that reflect their respective terroirs, including Pommard Premier Cru, Beaune Premier Cru, Pommard Village, and Meursault. Production remains limited, with total annual output typically under 25,000 bottles.
Philosophy & Practice
Thierry Violot-Guillemard adheres to traditional winemaking methods while incorporating practical adaptations when necessary. In the vineyard, the domaine practices lutte raisonnée (reasoned struggle), minimizing chemical interventions and focusing on soil health. Manual harvesting is standard practice, with careful sorting both in the vineyard and at the winery.
For red wine production, the domaine typically employs partial whole-cluster fermentation, with percentages varying according to the vintage and specific vineyard site. Fermentations occur with native yeasts in open-top wooden vats, with gentle extraction methods preferred over aggressive punch-downs. New oak is used judiciously, generally ranging from 20-30% for village wines and up to 50% for premier crus, with aging lasting 12-18 months depending on the wine.
The white wines see gentle pressing followed by barrel fermentation and aging on fine lees, typically using 15-25% new oak. Filtration is minimal or avoided entirely when possible, and sulfur additions are kept to necessary minimums, particularly at bottling.
The domaine's approach emphasizes transparency of terroir and vintage character, prioritizing balance and finesse over power and extraction. Their limited production allows for attentive handling throughout the winemaking process, from harvest decisions to bottling timing.