The king of Côte Rôtie and Condrieu wine estates
The Georges Vernay wine estate is one of the finest in France. Three generations have brought it to the deserved rank of excellence.
Christine Vernay took over from her father Georges in 1996. Through hard work and commitment, she has raised the renowned wine estate entrusted to her by her father to the highest echelons of the podium. Voted "Man" of the Year in 2012 (Bettane & Desseauve), a member of the Académie du Vin de France and the Académie Internationale du Vin (AIV), she is recognized as an outstanding winemaker. Today, she makes some of the finest wines in the world, some of which have been awarded the famous 100/100.
The history of this wine estate is somewhat unusual in that it is closely linked to the changing landscape of the Condrieu vineyards. Georges took over from his father Francis in 1953. Above all, he is credited with saving the Condrieu appellation, since in 1971, only 12 hectares of Viognier remained in the entire appellation. Under Georges' impetus and thanks to the wine estate's perseverance, the appellation survived and prospered. Quickly dubbed the "Pope of Condrieu", he created the legendary Chaillées de l'Enfer in 1992. Today, Condrieu's vineyards boast over 168 hectares of Viognierand are finally recognized for their exceptional terroir.
Now in the hands of Christine Vernay and her daughter Emma, the wine estate's aim is to perpetuate this heritage and make it even more sublime. While their Condrieu cuvées are always a source of immense pleasure, we're equally delighted to taste their sublime Côte Rôtie wines, which are sadly all too often forgotten.
Indeed, while the wine estate is world-renowned for having saved the Condrieu appellation, since the late 1990s it has been producing superb red wines in the prestigious Rhône appellation, such as the two emblematic cuvées Maison Rouge and Blonde du Seigneur. The elegance and delicacy of these Côte Rôtie wines brilliantly illustrate the work of the Georges Vernay wine estate across its entire range.
It's hard to disagree with the values espoused by this wine estate. It's a story of commitment and hard work, with the purest respect for the land, the vines and those who work them. And when you taste the wines, there's no mistaking the passion and determination to live up to their reputation.
An absolute must!
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