Guigal

Guigal is rightly considered one of the Rhône’s most important wine producers, famous for their resurrection of Côte-Rôtie during the 1970s and 80s. From their base in beautiful riverside Ampuis, this legendary outfit makes an extensive range of wines produced from the length and breadth of the Rhône Valley. They are far and away the largest producer of Cote Rotie, in addition to owning Domaine de Vallouit and the merchant house of Vidal Fleury, which makes it all the more astonishing, considering the impressive volumes being made, that the quality at this superlative estate is so consistent. Nothing less than exceptional wine leaves the cellar doors of Guigal, a testament to the hard work, dedication, and know-how of this dynamic family.

The Guigal family has a long and distinguished history as Rhône winemakers. Etienne Guigal founded the original domaine in 1946 in Ampuis, a small, historic village at the heart of the Côte-Rôtie Appellation. Over the decades, Etienne built a formidable reputation for his singular expression of the Côte-Rôtie terroir and personally vinified over 65 vintages. Sadly, blindness struck Etienne in the 1960s, and his son Marcel was forced to take over the domaine. A man of unparalleled dynamism and vision, Marcel set about expanding the family business and purchased the now-famous Château d’Ampuis in 1995. This stunning property has become synonymous with producing powerful and structured Cote Rotie, released in minimal quantities and not surprisingly at stratospheric prices.

Today, Guigal continues to be the Rhône’s foremost innovator and quality-led producer of an exciting and diverse selection of wines. Their careful expansion policy – including Domaine de Bonserine in 2003 – has paid dividends, allowing the family to acquire vineyards in exceptional terroirs throughout the region. The domaine is now largely run by the third generation husband and wife team of Philippe and Eve, who have even expanded their remit into barrel making at the gorgeous Châteaud’Ampuis. And while their vibrant range of wines is a model of consistency, the Ampuis labels excite connoisseurs and collectors. Phillipe’s top three cuvées, La Mouline, La Landonne, and La Turque, are super-rich, extracted and age-worthy wines seasoned with a healthy proportion of new oak. However, their balance and extraordinary finesse are still more important. All 3 are truly profound wines with that extra dimension and depth rarely encountered in this venerable region. But then, what else do you expect from such an accomplished team like the Guigal family!