Our Story
Located at the top of the village of Santenay, Domaine Chapelle & Fils has belonged to the family since 1893, the year when Doctor Chapelle’s father-in-law purchased the house and its vineyards in Santenay and Chassagne-Montrachet. A devotee of Burgundy and its wines, Doctor Chapelle was part of the generation that fought for recognition of the character of Burgundy villages, even before the appellation system. Putting theory into practice, he strove to produce quality wines on his estate, bottling them himself. As early as 1923, he offered his clients wines bottled at the property. His nephew, Philippe Chapelle, succeeded him. He sought to stabilise the estate’s position and took appropriate steps to ensure its continuity. Roger Chapelle, one of Philippe’s sons, then took over the estate. Thanks to him, the business grew with acquisitions in Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Meursault. In 1960, he matured and marketed the whole estate’s production independently. Jean-François joined his father in 1987. Following his father’s sudden death in 1991, he took over the domaine, running it together with his wife, Yvette Chapelle. Today, Domaine Chapelle & Fils is led by the fifth generation. Succeeding Yvette and Jean-François, Simon Chapelle has been managing the family estate since 2017. The property’s 18 hectares, now stretching from Santenay to Aloxe-Corton, via Chassagne-Montrachet and Pommard, are farmed exclusively with certified organic methods. Respect for the terroir is paramount, both in the vineyard (mechanical surface tilling, manual labour...) and in the winery (sulphur-free pressing, indigenous yeasts, limited extraction...). This is the shared commitment of the whole team: to produce quality, terroir-driven wines, in honour and memory of previous generations.
Acquisition of Domaine des Hautes Cornières by Doctor Chapelle’s father-in-law.
First bottling at the Domaine by Doctor Chapelle.
Arrival of Philippe CHAPELLE, Doctor’s nephew, at the Domaine.
First vintage by Roger CHAPELLE
Creation of a Société Civile Immobilière among Philippe’s 9 children to ensure the long-term future of the Domaine.
Establishment by Colette and Roger CHAPELLE of a tasting cellar at the Domaine.
Expansion of the Domaine in ALOXE CORTON and LADOIX
Expansion of the Domaine in MEURSAULT
Jean-François, Roger’s eldest son, returns to the Domaine after professional experience in Champagne and the Rhône Valley.
Roger and Jean-François establish the wine house Jean-François Chapelle, an entity that exclusively markets the estate’s wines, as well as a small selection from friendly domaines and a few grands crus from Burgundy.
Reduced use of chemical herbicides in favour of mechanical soil work, following numerous physiological and agronomic issues...
Complete halt to chemical weedkillers in favour of mechanical soil work and hiring of a vineyard manager to lead the transition to certified organic farming.
First harvest and vinification of grapes from certified organic farming.
Start of construction work on the new winery, led by Jean-François Chapelle. This modern extension allowed the domaine to make great strides in vinification control.
Acquisition (via a GFA) and farming by Domaine Chapelle & Fils of a vineyard plot in Pommard (lieu-dit En Boeuf). The same year marked the first organic certified vintage, as verified by Bureau Veritas, with the certification logo on the bottle.
First opening to export on the Asian market
After returning to France in 2014 and gaining winemaking experience in Chile and the United States, Simon Chapelle officially joins the business and takes over management of the family domaine from his parents.
Farming of a new plot of Aligoté 'Les Tilles' in the village of Santenay. The grapes will be sold during the conversion period of this plot to certified organic farming. The first estate vinification of grapes from this plot will take place with the 2024 harvest.
Introduction of a bottle deposit scheme for all our bottles from the 2023 vintage. Reuse and new labels with more sustainable paper and glue. A simple gesture for the environment and the preservation of our natural resources.
Our Expertise
For five generations, winemaking has been the rhythm of life for the CHAPELLE Family. For us, each wine tells the story of an alliance between the terroir that sustains us, which we have inherited from our elders, and the people who shape and bring it to life. Every great wine begins in the vineyard, where everyone applies their experience and know-how. By choosing organic viticulture, the current CHAPELLE Family members and their team are committed to sustainable farming practices that respect nature and the environment.
Our Team
Passionate professionals devoted to vines and wine, our small team of fewer than 10 people is dedicated to tending the vineyards and crafting the wines. Of course, a regular boost from seasonal workers—especially for the 100% hand-picked harvest—is vital to properly manage the family estate’s 18 hectares.
Simon
Manager, Vineyard & Cellar
At the helm of the domaine since 2017, Simon Chapelle and his team work tirelessly to offer you precise wines that stay true to their terroirs.
Jacques
Vineyard Team
Olivier
Vineyard Team
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Grégoire
Vineyard Team
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Cyril
Cellar Team
As cellar manager, Cyril oversees every final stage of our wines’ journey: maturation, bottling, and presentation, with keen attention to detail and respect for the work done in the vineyard.
Candice
Domaine Chapelle & Fils - Assistant Export and France Sales
Candice has worked at Domaine Chapelle for over 10 years, and is your main point of contact. Attentive and meticulous, she ensures you receive personal and efficient service every day.
Amandine
Domaine Chapelle & Fils - Assistant France Sales
As sales and communications assistant, Amandine develops wine tourism and strives to give every visitor a unique experience.