Winemaking and Vineyards

Burgundy

Maison Louis Latour owns almost fifty hectares of grand cru, premier cru and communal vineyards in Aloxe-Corton, Gevrey-Chambertin, Puligny-Montrachet, Vosne Romanee, Pernand-Vergelesses, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Pommard, Volnay and Beaune. Their Domaine represents the largest single holding of Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte d'Or.

Maison Louis Latour's Domaine wines are produced at Château Corton Grancey in the village of Aloxe-Corton using traditional techniques and almost entirely by hand. Denis Fetzmann, who has been working with the company since the 1970s, and Boris Champy, who joined the company after a decade in California, are responsible for viticulture and winemaking at the Domaine.

Louis Latour's other wines are made at the Clos Chameroy on the outskirts of Beaune under the watchful eye of Jean Charles Thomas. Here in their state of the art winery vinification takes place; blending centuries of tradition with beneficial modern innovations. During the harvest Louis Latour's third winery in Pommard handles the red grapes from the Côte de Beaune vineyards.

The Ardèche and Var

Four wines are produced locally: Duet is the first bi-varietal wine produced by Maison Latour, consisting of a blend of two thirds Chardonnay and one third Viognier that are harvested during the same period and vinified together. The second, Ardèche Viognier, is a single varietal wine with partial barrel ageing. The richer Grande Ardèche Chardonnay is made from selected grapes and aged in barrel; it is impressive with its harmony and rich aromas. The final wine and the first one made by Latour in the Ardèche is the light, citrusy Ardèche Chardonnay.

The grapes are grown are grown by over 300 local growers under contract to Latour, who exercise strict control over quality in the vineyard - an important factor in the encouragement of improved vineyard practice in the area.

In 1989 Maison Latour pioneered the production of Pinot Noir in the Var, capitalising on its high altitude, southerly climate and cool nights to produce an elegant wine with astounding finesse. The low yielding Pinot Noir grapes are harvested by hand and barrel-aged in the Burgundian tradition.