Domaine Faury

The Faury story begins after World War II, when Jean Faury planted vines and orchards in the hamlet of La Ribaudy, just south of Lyon in the village of Chavanay. His son Philippe took formal ownership of the domaine in 1979, expanding the holdings to over 11 hectares and shifting the family's commercial focus from local sales of wine, peaches, and cherries toward international export. Philippe's ambition established Domaine Faury as a credible name in the Northern Rhône, laying the groundwork for the estate's eventual recognition abroad. The domaine's partnership with Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, which began in 1994, proved pivotal in building its reputation in the United States over the following three decades.

• Grandfather Jean Faury planted original vines and orchards after WWII in La Ribaudy hamlet, Chavanay
• Philippe Faury took over in 1979, growing holdings to over 11 hectares and launching international sales
• Partnership with US importer Kermit Lynch began in 1994 and celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in 2024
• Family previously sold wine, peaches, and cherries locally before transitioning to export markets

Lionel Faury assumed leadership of the domaine in 2006 at the age of 23, though Philippe remained active and the two continue to work side by side. Representing the third generation of his family to farm around Chavanay, Lionel brought his own vision to the estate: a pursuit of finer, more detailed terroir expression informed by careful observation of his father's methods. One of his most consequential decisions was unifying the Faury label globally, ending the practice of bottling wines under a separate label for the US market. Beyond the cellar, Lionel has distinguished himself as a ten-time champion of the Joutes Nautiques, the traditional French water jousting competition.

• Lionel took over as domaine head in 2006 at age 23; Philippe Faury remains active alongside him
• Lionel is the third generation of the Faury family to grow grapes and make wine in Chavanay
• He unified the Faury label worldwide, replacing the separate label previously used for Kermit Lynch exports
• Lionel has won the Joutes Nautiques (French water jousting championship) ten times

Domaine Faury farms 17 hectares spread across four appellations in the Northern Rhône, all centered on the commune of Chavanay. In Côte-Rôtie, the estate holds parcels in the Fourvier and Le Plomb lieux-dits, from which it produces the estate's top cuvees. The Saint-Joseph holdings include multiple parcels, most notably Le Blanchard, situated at the northern tip of the appellation and known for producing bright, fragrant, mineral Syrah. Condrieu parcels contribute Viognier wines characterized by apricot and peach aromatics. A small production of Collines Rhodaniennes IGP rounds out the portfolio. The Chavanay area, at the northern limit of these appellations, is recognized for its particularly elegant and fresh style of Syrah.

• Côte-Rôtie parcels include the Fourvier and Le Plomb lieux-dits, sources for the estate's premium Syrah cuvees
• Le Blanchard parcel in Saint-Joseph sits at the northern tip of the appellation, prized for mineral, fragrant Syrah
• Condrieu Viognier is known for apricot and peach aromatic character
• Total holdings cover 17 hectares across Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, and Collines Rhodaniennes IGP

Lionel Faury's winemaking approach is built around preserving the freshness and acidity that define the Chavanay terroir. In the vineyard, leaf management is carefully managed to protect natural acidity. In the cellar, significant whole-cluster fermentation is employed alongside foot pigeage, a technique that extracts gently without over-processing the fruit. New oak plays a minimal role; the estate favors demi-muids and foudres, which allow wines to develop without imposing heavy wood influence. Wines are bottled unfined and with only light filtration. The combined effect is a house style marked by detail, transparency to site, and genuine freshness rather than weight or extraction.

• Lutte raisonnée farming with deliberate leaf management to preserve natural acidity
• Significant whole-cluster fermentation and foot pigeage used for gentle, precise extraction
• Demi-muids and foudres preferred over new barriques to minimize oak influence
• Wines bottled unfined and lightly filtered

Domaine Faury occupies a meaningful position among the Northern Rhône's rising estates, offering terroir-driven wines from prestigious appellations without the volume or recognition of the region's biggest names. The estate's location in Chavanay, at the northern margins of Côte-Rôtie and Saint-Joseph, gives it a distinctive stylistic identity: wines that lean toward finesse, minerality, and freshness rather than power. Lionel's decision to unify the global label and his consistent refinement of the domaine's vision have strengthened its coherence as a brand. The long-running Kermit Lynch partnership has kept Faury wines in front of serious wine buyers in the US for three decades, while critical recognition, including Wine Spectator scores for Les 3 Brunes, confirms the quality of the portfolio.

• Represents the rising generation of Northern Rhône producers emphasizing freshness and terroir detail over extraction
• Chavanay's position at the northern limits of Côte-Rôtie and Saint-Joseph produces inherently elegant, mineral Syrah
• Thirty-year Kermit Lynch partnership provides sustained visibility in the US fine wine market
• 2022 Les 3 Brunes Côte-Rôtie received 91 points from Wine Spectator in March 2024