Cathy and Eric Giroud

Cathy and Eric Giroud 's Story

"Cathy and I met at agricultural college back in the 80’s … and from there it has been a long but enjoyable journey! In 1990 we took over the family’s mixed-farming activity, cereals, cattle, and only 5 acres of vines.  Even though we kept a few donkeys and a family of cats…the focus has been totally on the wine - without forgetting, of course, to allocate enough time to our two daughters, Mathilde 18, and Elise, now 15.

Initially we sold our grapes to the Cooperative in Chardonnay but were frustrated by their system, particularly the inability to develop and show off our own personal and professional skills, not only in growing the grapes but in producing our own wine.

So in 2000 we decided to invest in our own production facilities, and we now cultivate a total of 32 acres here in Southern Burgundy (the “Mâconnais) split over the villages of Chardonnay (yes, the true home of CHARDONNAY) Uchizy and Plottes. Here we produce Mâcon-Villages, Mâcon-Chardonnay and Mâcon Uchizy.

The most recent acquisition, with a little financial help from family and friends, was the 5 acre plot in Uchizy, known as le “Moulin de l’Oeuvre” – literally the “Mill of Hard Labour”… and believe us, that’s what it can be! In fact the mill was used for processing the jute which, many moons ago, was cultivated there! At some point, the vines replaced the jute…for the pleasure of us all, even though some rubble and ruins from the old mill still do exist. It’s our favourite wine…the one which, despite all the hard work and the immense challenge, we genuinely feel is fully representative of the road we have travelled.