Henri Bourgeois (Domaine Famille Bourgeois)
Key French Terms
Ten generations of family winemaking in Chavignol, crafting benchmark Sancerre from 124 plots across silex, limestone, and Kimmeridgian soils.
Henri Bourgeois is one of Sancerre's most respected producers, farming 72 hectares across 124 plots in the Loire Valley. The family has worked these vines since 1696 and earned organic certification with the 2023 vintage. Their portfolio spans Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Marlborough, New Zealand.
- Founded in 1935 with just 2 hectares in Chavignol village, Sancerre
- Family history on these vines dates to 1696, now in the 10th and 11th generation
- Manages approximately 64 hectares in Sancerre and 6 hectares in Pouilly-Fumé
- Farms 124 plots total: 100 of Sauvignon Blanc and 24 of Pinot Noir
- Expanded internationally in 2000 with Clos Henri winery in Marlborough, New Zealand (45 hectares)
- Modern winery built in 2000, expanded in 2013 with gravity-flow design
- Completed full organic certification with the 2023 vintage
History and Heritage
The Bourgeois family has worked vines in Chavignol since 1696, making them one of the longest-established families in Sancerre. The modern domaine was formally founded in 1935 with just 2 hectares. In the 1950s, Henri Bourgeois made the bold decision to focus entirely on viticulture in a region that was still largely unknown outside France. His sons Jean-Marie and Rémi joined the operation in the 1960s, and the domaine has now passed into the 10th and 11th generation of the family.
- Family presence in Chavignol documented from 1696
- Formal founding in 1935 with 2 hectares
- Henri Bourgeois bet on Sancerre viticulture in the 1950s before the appellation gained international recognition
- Jean-Marie and Rémi Bourgeois joined in the 1960s, expanding the estate's ambitions
Estate and Vineyards
Today the domaine manages approximately 72 hectares in France, with 64 hectares in Sancerre and 6 hectares in Pouilly-Fumé. The vineyards are divided into 124 individual plots, 100 planted to Sauvignon Blanc and 24 to Pinot Noir. The soils vary across three main types: Kimmeridgian marl, silex, and limestone clays. These contrasting soil profiles allow the winemaking team to produce a range of terroir-driven bottlings that express distinct mineral characters. The continental climate, with its short hot summers and long cold winters, defines the growing season and contributes to the crisp acidity central to Sancerre's style.
- 64 hectares in Sancerre, 6 in Pouilly-Fumé
- Three soil types: Kimmeridgian marl, silex, and limestone clays
- Continental climate with short hot summers and long cold winters
- 124 plots farmed individually for terroir-specific winemaking
Winery and Production
A modern winery was constructed in 2000 and expanded significantly in 2013, incorporating a gravity-flow design to handle fruit with minimal mechanical intervention. The estate achieved full organic certification with the 2023 vintage, a commitment that reflects the family's long-term investment in the health of their soils. Beyond wine production, the domaine operates a hotel, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and dedicated tasting facilities, establishing Chavignol as a destination for wine tourism in the Loire Valley.
- Gravity-flow winery built in 2000, expanded in 2013
- Full organic certification from the 2023 vintage
- Hotel, Michelin-starred restaurant, and tasting facilities on site
- Gravity-flow design minimizes mechanical handling of fruit
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Look it up →Clos Henri: New Zealand Expansion
In 2000, the Bourgeois family extended their reach to the southern hemisphere by establishing Clos Henri in Marlborough, New Zealand. The New Zealand estate covers 45 hectares and applies the same terroir-focused philosophy developed over generations in Sancerre. This expansion gave the family a foothold in one of the world's most prominent Sauvignon Blanc regions, allowing direct comparison between their Loire Valley and Marlborough expressions.
- Clos Henri established in Marlborough, New Zealand in 2000
- 45 hectares under vine in Marlborough
- Sauvignon Blanc focus mirrors the Loire Valley estate
- Enables side-by-side terroir comparison between two leading Sauvignon Blanc regions
Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc from Henri Bourgeois shows crisp citrus, white peach, and flint-driven minerality, with a chalky texture from Kimmeridgian soils and a clean, precise finish shaped by the continental climate. Silex-based wines lean smoky and taut; limestone clay plots produce rounder, more aromatic expressions. Pinot Noir from the estate is light-bodied with red fruit and earthy notes.
- Henri Bourgeois Sancerre Blanc Les Baronnes$25-35Entry-level Sancerre from limestone clay soils; textbook aromatic Sauvignon Blanc with citrus and mineral notes.Find →
- Henri Bourgeois Sancerre Blanc La Bourgeoise$55-70Old-vine Sancerre from premier plots; concentrated, mineral-driven, and built for short-term aging.Find →
- Henri Bourgeois Sancerre Blanc En Travertin$60-80Single-terroir silex bottling showing smoky minerality and tight structure typical of flint-based Sancerre.Find →
- Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough$25-35Bourgeois's New Zealand estate; Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with a Loire-influenced restrained, terroir-focused style.Find →
- Henri Bourgeois Pouilly-Fumé Les Baronnes$28-38From the 6-hectare Pouilly-Fumé holding; benchmark smoky, flint-edged expression of the appellation.Find →
- Henri Bourgeois farms 124 plots in the Loire Valley: 100 Sauvignon Blanc and 24 Pinot Noir, across Sancerre (64 ha) and Pouilly-Fumé (6 ha)
- Three soil types define the estate: Kimmeridgian marl, silex, and limestone clays, each producing distinct mineral expressions
- Family history dates to 1696; the formal domaine was established in 1935 with 2 hectares
- Full organic certification was achieved with the 2023 vintage
- Clos Henri in Marlborough, New Zealand was founded in 2000 with 45 hectares