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Domaine Cheysson
Chiroubles since 1868. 26 ha at 400 m, Beaujolais. 17th-century cellar. Cluny Abbey legacy. 7 cuvées...
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Domaine Émile Cheysson: the elegance of Chiroubles wines, at the heart of Beaujolais
Domaine Émile Cheysson
The elegance of Chiroubles wines since 1868. 26 ha at 400 m altitude, Beaujolais. 17th-century cellar. Cluny Abbey legacy. 7 cuvées.
Founded in 1868 by Émile Cheysson, statesman, social reformer and visionary entrepreneur, Domaine Émile Cheysson stands today as a defining reference in Chiroubles, at the heart of the Beaujolais. Heir to an even older story, the monks of Cluny Abbey had already cleared these hillsides to plant the vine, the estate brings together centuries of tradition and modern winemaking.
Across 26 hectares of vines on steep granite hillsides, the vineyard draws on exceptional terroir that gives its wines elegance, finesse and authentic character. The Cheysson family, present for over 150 years, perpetuates this expertise across every parcel, from hand-harvesting to ageing in the perfectly-tempered 17th-century cellar.
A historic estate founded in 1868, rooted since the Abbey of Cluny
The story of Domaine Émile Cheysson does not begin in 1868. It begins much earlier, when the monks of Cluny Abbey cleared these hillsides to plant the vine, recognising the exceptional potential of this terroir. The vines have been here for centuries, long before the estate received its name.
In 1868, Émile Cheysson, statesman, social reformer and visionary entrepreneur, founded the estate and gave it its identity. Since then, the Cheysson family has carried this legacy forward with consistency: the same granite parcels, the same 17th-century cellar, the same dedication to precision in the vineyard and authenticity in the glass.
The estate's philosophy
The consistency and precision of vineyard and cellar work underpin cuvées recognised for their authenticity and elegance. From hand-harvesting to ageing in the naturally tempered 17th-century cellar, every step is taken to ensure wines of exceptional character.
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The soul of Chiroubles: the highest-altitude Beaujolais cru
Chiroubles is renowned as the highest-altitude Beaujolais cru, with hillside vineyards reaching 400 metres above sea level. This unique relief, combined with poor but vine-perfect granite soils, produces wines of exceptional delicacy, perfumed, fruity and light. The Gamay Noir grape, king of the appellation, expresses here a lightness and aromatic freshness rarely matched elsewhere in Beaujolais.
The Cheysson family, established on these slopes for over 150 years, perpetuates this expertise by bringing out the best of every parcel. Each vintage is a faithful expression of a granite terroir that needs no forcing to produce great wine, it simply needs to be itself.
A unique cultural and landscape heritage: the Tuscan feel of French Beaujolais
Visiting Domaine Émile Cheysson means stepping into a region often compared to a French Tuscany. Chapels, châteaux, winemakers' houses and rolling hillsides create an enchanting setting for a wine tourism escape between Mâcon and Villefranche-sur-Saône. The estate welcomes visitors in an exceptional historic setting, between its 17th-century cellar and its steep hillside vineyards, where the experience is as memorable as the wines themselves.
The seven iconic cuvées of Domaine Émile Cheysson
Each wine has its own personality: fine, fruity reds, elegant whites, festive rosés and refined sparkling wines. Seven expressions of the same terroir, seven ways into the Cheysson universe.
Cuvée Tradition
AOC Chiroubles · Gamay Noir · Flagship cuvée
The estate's signature cuvée, a classic expression of Chiroubles' granite terroir. A fine, fruity and perfumed red that faithfully captures the natural elegance of the highest Beaujolais appellation. The ideal introduction to Cheysson wines.
Cuvée Nature Le Prieuré
AOC Chiroubles · Gamay Noir · Natural winemaking
A natural cuvée honouring the history of the place, these hillsides that the monks of the Prieuré de Cluny first cleared to plant the vine. Precise winemaking, free expression of the terroir.
Cuvée La Secrète
AOC Chiroubles · Gamay Noir · Prestige · Best parcels
The estate's confidential cuvée, born from its finest granite parcels. Structure, depth and long finish, a Chiroubles built to age, for those who seek intensity behind the elegance. Can develop beautifully over 4 to 8 years.
Quatre Saisons
Beaujolais Rosé · Gamay Noir · All occasions
A festive, accessible rosé for every occasion, aperitif, summer terrace or light lunch. Aromatic freshness and fruity generosity in every glass.
L'Exception
Beaujolais Blanc · Chardonnay · Elegant white
An elegant, mineral white, rare in Beaujolais, revealing another dimension of the Chiroubles terroir. Freshness, tension and length: exceptional in the most literal sense.
Folie's - Pétillant Rosé
Sparkling rosé · Festive spirit
The wine for joyful moments. A light, vibrant, moreish sparkling rosé, the cuvée you open when you need no particular reason to celebrate.
Crémant de Bourgogne - Cuvée Prestige
AOC Crémant de Bourgogne · Sparkling · Traditional method
Refined, elegant bubbles produced by the traditional method. The estate's flagship sparkling wine, complex, persistent, built for grand occasions and prestige celebrations.
Careful delivery across France and Europe · Chiroubles, Rosé, White, Crémant
What sets Domaine Émile Cheysson apart in Beaujolais
The highest-altitude Beaujolais appellation. At 400 metres, Chiroubles enjoys a natural freshness the other Beaujolais crus simply do not have. This altitude produces wines of unique lightness and aromatic finesse.
A history that predates the estate itself. Before 1868, Cluny Abbey monks were already farming these hillsides. This historic depth is rare in the French vineyard, and it resonates in every cuvée.
A 17th-century cellar, intact. Ageing in this preserved historic space is not a marketing claim, it is a reality that guarantees ideal conditions, vintage after vintage.
Award-winning wines, proven consistency. Cheysson cuvées are regularly medal-winners in competitions and recommended by leading guides. Consistency born of rigorous work in both vineyard and cellar.
Seven cuvées, one identity. From Chiroubles Tradition to Crémant de Bourgogne Prestige, each wine expresses a different facet of the terroir, never straying from the elegance that has been Cheysson's signature since 1868.
Frequently asked questions about Domaine Cheysson, Chiroubles wines and their conservation
Should I choose a Chiroubles or a Crémant de Bourgogne from Cheysson ?
It all depends on the moment. Chiroubles, Cuvée Tradition or La Secrète, comes into its own at the table, alongside roasted poultry, a Lyonnaise charcuterie board or Beaujolais cheeses. The Crémant de Bourgogne Cuvée Prestige, with its fine bubbles and complexity, is built for grand occasions and exceptional aperitifs. Still undecided? Folie's Pétillant Rosé will settle the debate with a smile.
Where is Domaine Émile Cheysson located ?
Domaine Émile Cheysson is located in Chiroubles, Beaujolais, in the Rhône département of eastern France. Chiroubles lies between Mâcon and Villefranche-sur-Saône, in a region often compared to a French Tuscany for its rolling hillside landscapes, chapels and winemakers' houses. The estate is easily reachable from Lyon (approximately 70 km) and Mâcon (approximately 40 km).
What is AOC Chiroubles and how does it differ from Beaujolais ?
Chiroubles is one of the ten Beaujolais crus, a standalone appellation, distinct from Beaujolais Villages and generic Beaujolais. It is the highest-altitude cru, with vines reaching 400 metres above sea level on steep granite soils. This unique elevation gives Chiroubles wines a freshness and aromatic finesse that are rare in the wider appellation, light-bodied, fruit-forward Gamay Noir reds, often cited as among the most elegant wines of the Beaujolais.
What food pairings work best with Domaine Cheysson wines ?
Cuvée Tradition pairs beautifully with roast poultry, potato gratin, Lyonnaise quenelles or a Beaujolais charcuterie board. La Secrète, deeper and more structured, suits lighter red meats and aged cheeses. L'Exception (white) is a natural match for fish or seafood. Quatre Saisons rosé is ideal as an aperitif or with summer salads. Crémant Prestige shines at celebrations and with desserts.
How does the estate work in the vineyard and cellar ?
All harvesting is done by hand, a necessity on steep granite slopes at 400 metres where machines have no place. Grapes are sorted in the vineyard before vinification in the estate's cellars, respecting the integrity of the fruit. Ageing takes place in the naturally tempered 17th-century cellar, which provides consistent, ideal conditions vintage after vintage. No over-extraction, no forcing: the aim is to let Chiroubles terroir speak with all its natural finesse.
Why order Cheysson wines through Avenue des Vins ?
Avenue des Vins offers Domaine Émile Cheysson cuvées through a direct channel, with careful delivery across France and Europe, protective wine-safe packaging and an expert selection guaranteeing full authenticity. Ordering online means accessing one of Chiroubles' most historic estates with all the assurance of a trusted distribution platform.
What role did Cluny Abbey play in the estate's history ?
Long before the estate was founded in 1868, the monks of Cluny Abbey, one of the most influential Benedictine abbeys of the Middle Ages, had already cleared these hillsides to plant the vine. This monastic presence explains the long winemaking tradition of Chiroubles and the quality of terroirs identified centuries ago. The Cheysson estate is thus the heir to a winemaking history that predates its own founding, giving it a historic depth that is genuinely rare in the Beaujolais vineyard.
How long can you keep Domaine Cheysson wines ?
Cuvée Tradition and Quatre Saisons (rosé) are designed to be enjoyed young, within 2 to 4 years of the vintage, to benefit from their freshness and fruit. La Secrète, from the finest granite parcels, can develop beautifully over 4 to 8 years and gains complexity with bottle age. The Crémant de Bourgogne Prestige and L'Exception (white) are best within 3 to 5 years. All wines benefit from stable storage between 12°C and 14°C.
Which Cheysson wine makes the best gift ?
For a gift that makes an impression, La Secrète is the obvious choice: rare, deep, from the estate's finest Chiroubles parcels, it says everything about the Cheysson identity. For a festive gift, the Crémant de Bourgogne Prestige never disappoints, elegant, refined and appropriate for any celebration. To introduce someone to Beaujolais, Cuvée Tradition is ideal: typically Chiroubles, accessible and representative of an appellation too few wine lovers know well.
Which Cheysson wine should I try first ?
Cuvée Tradition is the ideal starting point: it expresses the typicity of Gamay Noir on high-altitude granite terroir with a clarity and accessibility that win over curious newcomers and seasoned wine lovers alike. Its clean fruit, light texture and aromatic freshness perfectly summarise what makes Chiroubles unique among the Beaujolais crus. A bottle to share at the table or over aperitifs, it never disappoints.
Beaujolais producers · Protected shipping
Domaine Émile Cheysson · Chiroubles, Beaujolais · Founded 1868 · 26 ha at 400 m altitude · 17th-century cellar
Cluny Abbey legacy · Award-winning wines · 7 cuvées · Chiroubles AOC · Beaujolais wines · Crémant de Bourgogne
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