Set in the timeless Pierres Dorées region of southern Beaujolais, the Chermette estate has been rooted in Vissoux since the 17th century, where Jean-Étienne’s paternal grandmother, Eugénie Vissoux, once tended the family’s earliest vines. Today, that lineage continues through Martine, Pierre-Marie, and Jean-Étienne himself, blending ancestral wisdom with modern vision.
Here, every row of vines whispers its own story of place and patience. Plots are meticulously observed each week—only the healthiest clusters, ripened under the sun, are carried into gentle harvests by hand. In this sacred rotation of seasons, “The art of making wine as close to the grape as possible” isn’t a motto—it’s the pulse of every decision.
Over limestone-rich soils, the vineyards breathe naturally, thanks to practices that favour biodiversity: no synthetic herbicides, strategic grassing, and mechanical tillage that keeps the soil alive—not shaped, but stewarded. A testament to their devotion, the estate earned the prestigious HVE 3 certification: a beacon of sustainable excellence.
Rainwater collected underground nourishes both vineyard and cellar, while sunlight, captured through photovoltaic panels, powers operations with a light touch on the environment. It’s a dance between innovation and reverence, where modern stewardship echoes through every vine.
Harvest is an act of mindfulness. Entire grapes are selected by hand, ensuring purity before fermenting naturally in the tank. Wines rise through semi-carbonic maceration: clusters immersed, exposed to CO₂, gently coaxed into structure and colour—no chaptalisation, no added yeasts, minimal sulfites. The result is wines that resonate with clarity, balanced yet unmasked.
Ageing takes place across five vessels, each chosen for its unique impact:
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Large Oak Casks (40–55 hl): Softening through delicate micro-oxygenation.
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228 L Oak Barrels (new to 7 years): Subtly framed structure meets soft tannins.
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Acacia Barrels (for Beaujolais Blanc): Whisper of floral freshness—think honey and white flowers, not overt wood.
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Stainless Steel Tanks: Vibrant fruit shines through.
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Concrete Vats: Classic containers maintaining freshness and purity.
And beneath it all lies a piece of family soul—a vaulted cellar built in 1873 by Jean-Étienne’s great-grandfather, lovingly preserved by Thierry Chapuis, the region’s last cooper. It’s where tradition is not just honoured—it’s lived.
Each bottle that emerges is more than a wine—it’s a quiet dialogue between people and place, history and horizon. It is the terroir of Saint-Vérand rendered in vine, time, and care.
Cuvees available:
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Fleurie Sourire de Martine
A wine as graceful and generous as its namesake, Jean-Étienne’s mother Martine. From Fleurie’s delicate granite soils comes a cuvée full of floral perfume, silky red fruit, and the charm that makes Fleurie so beloved. It is elegance in its purest Beaujolais form. -
Moulin-à-Vent Générosité de Pierre-Marie
A cuvée that pays homage to Jean-Étienne’s father, Pierre-Marie. Structured, powerful, and long-lived, it channels the noble strength of Moulin-à-Vent. Here granite and wind conspire to give Gamay its most profound expression: dense fruit, fine tannins, and a generosity that endures. -
Morgon Inspiration de Jean-Étienne
This cuvée is Jean-Étienne’s personal expression of Morgon — a terroir known for depth, spice, and age-worthiness. It carries darker fruit, earth, and a quiet tension, standing as both a reflection of his inspiration and a promise of the future. -
Vissoux Une Vie en Beaujolais
A tribute to generations of Chermettes who have lived and worked the vines of Vissoux. This wine is the beating heart of the estate: supple, vibrant Gamay drawn from the golden stones of the south. It tells the story of a life entwined with Beaujolais itself.
For distribution in USA.
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Official Instagram:
@domaine_chermette
Official website:
wwww.chermette.fr/en/