M. Chapoutier

M. Chapoutier was founded in 1808 and came under Chapoutier family ownership in 1855. Based in Tain-l'Hermitage on the banks of the Rhone, the house operated as a traditional negociant for over a century. Michel Chapoutier and his brother Marc took over management after their father Max retired in 1977. However, the real transformation came in 1990 when Michel assumed primary creative control, launching a radical overhaul of vineyard management and winemaking that would elevate Chapoutier to world-class status.

• Founded 1808; Chapoutier family ownership since 1855 in Tain-l'Hermitage
• Negociant-producteur model: combines estate vineyards with selective grower partnerships
• Michel and Marc Chapoutier succeeded their father Max in 1977
• Michel's 1990 takeover marked the beginning of the quality revolution

In 1991, Michel Chapoutier made the decisive choice to convert the entire estate to biodynamic viticulture, inspired by Austrian scientist Rudolf Steiner's principles. This was a radical move at the time, especially for a major negociant house. The conversion demonstrated that biodynamic farming could work at commercial scale in the Rhone Valley, influencing an entire generation of French and international producers. Today the Maison controls 389 organic or biodynamic hectares across multiple appellations.

• Full biodynamic conversion beginning in 1991, one of the earliest major producers to commit
• 389 organic or biodynamic hectares under management across all regions
• Michel Chapoutier became a leading global advocate for biodynamic viticulture
• Practices include cover crops, compost preparations, and lunar cycle-guided vineyard work

Chapoutier produces single-vineyard Hermitage wines from the most prized parcels on the famous hill. The top cuvees include Le Pavillon (Syrah from old vines on granitic soils), Le Meal (rich, powerful Syrah and Marsanne), L'Ermite (from the summit of the hill), and Les Greffieux. The house favors single-variety wines, with Cote-Roties made from Syrah only and white Hermitages from Marsanne only, emphasizing pure terroir expression over blending.

• Le Pavillon, Le Meal, L'Ermite, and Les Greffieux are the flagship single-vineyard Hermitage cuvees
• Cote-Roties made from 100% Syrah; white Hermitages from 100% Marsanne
• Largest vineyard owner on the hill of Hermitage
• Also produces wines from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Condrieu

Chapoutier was the first wine producer in the world to include Braille on its labels, starting with the 1994 Monier de la Sizeranne Hermitage and expanding to all wines by 1996. This innovation reflects Michel Chapoutier's commitment to accessibility and has become one of the house's most recognizable signatures. The house also expanded internationally, establishing Tournon wines in Australia in 2007 after purchasing 50 hectares in the Victorian Pyrenees and Heathcote regions.

• Braille on all labels since 1996, a pioneering accessibility innovation in the wine industry
• Australian venture (Tournon) established 2007 in Victorian Pyrenees and Heathcote
• Also owns vineyards in Portugal's Douro Valley and France's Roussillon
• Produces wines at multiple price points, from entry-level to collector-grade Hermitage