The Rion family history goes back five generations to 1896 in Premeaux and Nuits-Saint-Georges. The Domaine was established in 1955 by Daniel Rion with a mere 2 ha of vines, selling the majority of his wine to negociants until the 1978 vintage. Daniel’s sons Patrice (who departed in 2000), Christophe, Olivier and eventually his daughter Pascale would join him at the winery. As their vineyard holdings grew, Domaine Rion became a standard bearer of old-school vin de gard Burgundy. As Clive Coates puts it: “This is an important domaine. Quality is high and dependable and if I find a ‘house style’ in the wines, a family resemblance, I don’t quibble too much because the wines are clean and fruity and the tannins have become increasingly sophisticated over the years.” Today Jean-Charles, son of Olivier and grandson of Daniel runs the estate. They now manage 6 ha across Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, and the Grand Crus of Clos Vougeot and Échezeaux. The winemaking remains traditional.
Viticulture & Winemaking
Attentive care throughout the year keeps him in his vines and cellar. The harvest is limited to small yields. The grapes are harvested manually followed by rigorous sorting, favoring only the healthiest berries. The vinification takes place in open stainless-steel vats at carefully controlled temperatures throughout the alcoholic fermentation process. Maceration lasts on average from fifteen days to three weeks depending on the appellations and the quality of the vintage. The aging takes place quietly between twelve and eighteen months in oak barrels.
