Five generations of winemakers
The pride of the winery is the Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent. Marcel Fèvre, Gilles’ great-grandfather, planted the vines here in 1955. Adjacent to the Grand Crus, this plot is considered exceptional terroir, and yields generous and well-developed wines with outstanding character and finesse.
A long family tradition
The Fèvre line stretches as far back as 1745, and each generation counts at least one family member working in the field of winemaking: winegrowers, oenologists, nursery managers, agricultural engineers—even a barrel-maker! Let’s take a closer look at this celebrated family of wine producers from Chablis and their superb estate.
Paradise in Chablis
The estate dates back to the 1900s, long before it carried Nathalie and Gilles Fèvre’s names. Marcel Fèvre established the vineyard and his successors expanded it by acquiring three prestigious plots. It’s a beautiful spot, and today it includes three Premier Crus (Fourchaume, Mont de Milieu and Vaulorent) and some Grand Crus vines at Les Preuses. As one of the seven Grand Crus of Chablis, it boasts some outstanding qualities, including its climate, hillside location with south-western exposure and deep soil that allows the vines grown deep roots and draw on the best of the terroir. Nathalie uses her skill to create wines with a powerful attack that are silky and creamy on the palate.
A great respect for the environment
Gilles started implementing sustainable agricultural techniques in a most unusual fashion: he peppered his vines with typhlodromus mites taken from cherry trees as a way of getting rid of spiders that were harming his crops. This was the beginning of a new style of agriculture at the Fèvre estate… and illustrates how important it is to innovate while preserving knowledge that’s been passed down from one generation to the next. Gilles and Nathalie’s daughter Julie, who is both an agricultural engineer and oenologist, brings new energy and ideas to the family operation. Since 2015, their combined efforts to implement environmentally responsible practices has earned the estate an Haute Valeur Environnementale certification.
Dedicated to the community
Galleon has a deep appreciation for people who are making a difference in the wine community, and the Fèvre family is an excellent example. Nathalie is the president of Femmes et Vins de Bourgogne, an association of women winemakers in Burgundy, and both she and Gilles are active in various organizations that aim to protect and develop the Chablis appellation, such as the Union des Grands Crus de Chablis.
Behind the Wines
Nathalie and Gilles Fèvre
Nathalie and Gilles met studying oenology at the University of Bourgogne, in Dijon. Nathalie spent 10 years as the oenologist at La Chablisienne, where she had the chance to produce various Premier Crus and Grand Crus. She and Gilles have since established their own winery, where she is in charge of winemaking and he takes care of grape growing.