Domaine Jean-Jacques Girard

The Girard family has been growing grapes in Savigny-lès-Beaune since 1529, making this one of the oldest winemaking estates in Burgundy. Seven generations later, Jean-Jacques Girard created his own estate to continue the family tradition. Jean-Jacques has been producing wine here as the sole proprietor since 1998, establishing his domaine after the original family estate was divided. The vineyards sit in a peaceful valley rimmed in hardwood forest, where soil ranges from crumbly shale to compact clay, with expositions from north-east to full south. This diversity gives the estate remarkable character across its different parcels. Today, Jean-Jacques works alongside his son Vincent, who joined the estate in 2008. Together they manage 18 hectares spread across the villages of Nuit St George, Savigny, Pernand-Vergelesses and Volnay. The vines are worked with deep respect of the soil and the environment, and vinification combines traditional expertise with new technologies. Their approach in the cellar is thoughtful and precise. Reds are 100% destemmed and undergo a short maceration in open vats before thermo-regulated fermentation, while cool fermentation helps keep the wines stylistically fresh. For white wines, the techniques vary by vineyard. The Savigny white is fermented in large oak casks (foudre), while the Pernand and Pernand 1er Cru are fermented in 50HL vats. All whites are raised in Burgundian oak (15% new) for just under a year, with weekly stirring of the lees until the end of malo-lactique fermentation. The reds get similar treatment, with 15 months in 15% new oak (25% for old-vine Pommard and Beaune 1er Cru 'Clos du Roi'). It's a balanced approach that respects the fruit while adding just enough structure. The domaine produces wines across multiple appellations. They grow Aligoté, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, crafting everything from regional Bourgogne to prestigious premier crus. Notable bottlings include the Savigny Premiers Crus of Les Fourneaux, Les Lavieres, Les Peuillets, Les Rouvrettes, Les Serpentieres, Les Fichots and Les Vergelesses, along with Les Fretilles 1er Cru in Pernand-Vergelesses, Clos du Roi 1er Cru in Beaune and the Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne. The wines show a signature style that balances purity with approachability, making them perfect for both everyday drinking and special occasions.