Domaine Sainte Barbe - The classic Viré-Clessé wine

Jean-Marie Chaland, together with his wife Ewelina, run this 9-hectare estate in Viré having taken over the reins from Jean-Marie’s father 12 years ago.

The vines have never seen a synthetic chemical since his grandfather planted them just after World War II, and are all Certified Organic. Domaine Sainte Barbe's vineyards include 23 different parcels of vines, and 75% of them are over 50 years old. The clay-limestone soils here help give structure and lift to the Mâcon fruit. Harvest is by hand and vinification uses only natural yeasts and minimal added sulphites.

Where and what is Viré-Clessé?

Viré-Clessé is a relatively new appellation in the Mâconnais region of southern Burgundy and the most recently created of the region's communal titles. Viré-Clessé wines are produced exclusively from the Chardonnay grape variety, and Domaine Sainte Barbe was recently named one of the Top 25 Mâcon producers in the Australian Gourmet Traveller ‘Wine’ magazine.

The classic Viré-Clessé wine offers aromas of acacia flowers and exotic fruits, with the best examples having a mineral, flinty undertone known as pierre a fussil (gunflint).

Jean-Marie has a beautiful sense of calm and thoughtfulness about him, happy to split his time evenly between work in the vineyard and winery, his young family, a passion for martial arts, and renovating his historic property 5km from the winery. We offer two wines from these guys, both delicious, and interesting styles of Chardonnay.

Jean-Marie and Ewelina Chaland