2014 J.M. Perraud Mâcon-Villages

J.M. Perraud was started in 2005 when Jean-Christophe Perraud, then a 24-year-old bolstered by a degree in oenology and a lifelong passion for winemaking, produced his first vintage of Mâcon Chardonnay. His family had traditionally grown grapes for the local cooperative, but Perraud wanted to make his own wine. In 2006 he started making a St. Véran Chardonnay and in 2007 he added a red wine to the estate’s offerings, another sign of his enthusiasm for pushing the envelope. Though Gamay and Pinot Noir are allowed in Perraud’s Maconnais appellations, most wine produced is white. In 2008 the family left the cooperative entirely and created Domaine Perraud, at the same time building a winery in the commune of la Roche-Vineuse. Since then Perraud has acquired more land, and today it has 75 vineyard acres spread over five surrounding communes. Vineyards are planted to Chardonnay, Aligoté, Pinot Noir and Gamay. About 85% of the total production is white wine. In 2011 Perraud began producing a Crémant de Bourgogne. Perraud makes wines in the appellations of Mâcon, Bourgogne, Crémant de Bourgogne and Mâcon-villages.

Mâconnais is in the southern end of Burgundy, just above Beaujolais. The district takes its name from the village of Mâcon, which was the center of a thriving wine trade in the 17th century. In those days Mâconnais produced more red than white wine. Today Mâcconais makes mostly white wine made from Chardonnay grapes and is best known as the home of Pouilly-Fuissé. Pouilly-Fuissé is a white wine appellation made up of the villages of Pouilly and Fuissé. There are no Grand or Premier Crus in Mâconnais. But in addition to Pouilly-Fuissé, village appellations include Saint-Véran, Viré-Clessé and Mâcon and Mâcon-Villages. The Mâcon plus a village name is an allowable wine label. Mâcconais includes 17,300 acres of vineyards. Red wines are made from Pinot Noir or Gamay, which is the primary grape just slightly further south in Beaujolais.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.