History, Tradition and a Story in Every Bottle
Members of the Chapoutier family have had a history of working in vineyards as early as 1808 in Rhône Valley, France. The family motto: ‘Fac et Spera’ in Latin, translated ‘Do and Hope’ in English, is seen through the emblem on the labels of M. Chapoutier wine, this philosophy is evident throughout the family’s history and pioneering spirit.
In 1989, Michel Chapoutier, the brands eponym, created the first Sélection Parcellaire (collection of wines) on the Hill of Hermitage, France. With this, Chapoutier proposes the best snapshot of the terroir. Since 1990, Chapoutier has managed the exceptional estate, a land rich in history and tradition. Passionately interested in expressing the character of the soil, Chapoutier found the means to give free rein to his convictions. In a new era for the winery, he welcomed change, linking traditions of the past with his fresh yet daring winery beliefs.
But as with every natural element, what matters most is weather, earth, roots, vines and fruit. Biodynamics; an essential value: bio, as in life, and dynamics, for action.1991 marked the adoption of biodynamic farming techniques.
M. Chapoutier deliberately avoids establishing a house taste, with a belief that the land should have a say. “Allowing the terroir to have its say, means letting the soil and especially the vintage express themselves. This integrity must not be corrected.” – Michel Chapoutier. Since 1996 every M. Chapoutier wine label has been marked in braille (appellation, wine name, colour, vintage).
This was a choice and tribute to Maurice Monier of La Sizeranne, the creator of the first version of shortened braille and part of the history of the Hermitage vineyard. In 1997 Chapoutier travelled to Victoria, where he made wines on the organic sites within the Heathcote and Pyrenees wine regions. Today, the M.Chapoutier brand is a renowned leader in biodynamic and organic viticulture.
