Experimental Approach to Viticulture

Fr D Ric Drouhin

Maison Joseph Drouhin, an established wine producer based in Burgundy, France, has been run by the Drouhin family for over 140 years. Today, the house manages over 160 different appellations across the region, with vineyards in such prestigious locations as Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise. The family also operates two wine estates in Oregon, USA. The company’s American wines are produced by Domaine Drouhin Oregon under the direction of the family’s fourth-generation winemaker Véronique BossDrouhin.

Frédéric Drouhin, currently serving as President of the Executive Board at Maison Joseph Drouhin, speaks about the roots of the winemaking tradition at the estate, respect for family values as part of the philosophy of the house and the importance of commitment to organic production in the changing climate.

メゾン・ジョゼフ・ドルーアン。フランス・ブルゴーニュ地方 を拠点に140年以上にわたりドルーアン一家が営んできた、 世に認められたワインメーカーです。今日ではシャブリ、コー ト・ド・ニュイ、コート・ド・ボーヌ、コート・シャロネーズ といった名だたる産地に畑を持ち、ブルゴーニュ全体で160 以上のアペラシオンを所有しています。また一族は、米国オレ ゴン州で2つのワインエステートも運営。そのアメリカワイ ンは、4代目のヴェロニク・ボス＝ドルーアンの指揮のもと、 ドメーヌ・ドルーアン・オレゴンで造られています。

現在、メゾン・ジョゼフ・ドルーアンのCEOを務めるフレデ リック・ドルーアン氏が、ワイン造りの伝統のルーツ、理念の ひとつである家族という価値の尊重、変わりゆく気候の中での オーガニック農法へのこだわりについて語ってくれました。

The four Drouhin siblings – Frédéric, Véronique, Philippe and Laurent – were exposed to the world of wine from an early age. “My father let me play in the Beaune cellars with my friends when I was six years old. As a result, I had a feel of the atmosphere of the cellar. It was dark, very unique. You could play hide-and-seek, surrounded by the beautiful smells of wine maturing cask,” – Frédéric recalls.

He adds that, along with his older sister and two brothers, they represent the fourth generation in the family. For as long as he can remember, the family has instilled interest in wine in them.

“We often had family lunches, and, on these occasions, my father was picking wines from his personal cellar, some very old bottles.

One time, when I was only ten, he pulled a bottle of wine – a blend of seven grapes without telling us what it was,” – Frédéric says. “We had to guess the origin of the wine. Of course, we did not know. But it was a great exercise helping us learn about the diversity of the terroir.”

He adds that he was only six years old when he had his first sip of wine, which set him on the path to better understanding the nuanced flavours and developing his palate. “As children, we are honest, we don’t lie. If the wine is good, we will tell it is good, very accurately. We all have a good palate, but it needs to be trained regularly. So, if you start young, you train your palate for a longer time.”