Humility and Determination


Our History


Since 1990


Michel Chapoutier

Michel Chapoutier started his love-affair with wine at 26. A self-taught enthusiast and a curious visionary he brings to the winery a new approach and a powerful ambition. An idea of wine that soon became all-embracing. “Wine-grower, wine-maker and wine lover”. The choices he made marked a break with past principles and prejudices. A question of audacity and conviction, convictions he shares with his young team. An essential, emblematic choice too: he decided to change the taste associated with Maison M. Chapoutier, to avoid cultivating “a signature taste”, focusing instead on bringing out the difference and specific features of each terroir.

Terroir Lover

From his childhood Michel has retained fragrances and smells from the terroirs that fuelled his inspiration and passion. Scents also brought back from his journeys and encounters, from other countries and different cultures. This was a process of initiation, learning to appreciate the full diversity, richness and subtlety of wine. One essential idea emerged, the importance of terroir and its expression in wine. Being true to the earth, which gives its signature flavour to each wine. And ideas lead to commitment, defending the Appellation Controlee (AoC) system, a key battle.


Michel Chapoutier loves wine, any wines. Without chauvinism. He likes food too, the way flavours bring emotion to dishes; where food and wine pairing takes a whole new level. Michel seeks perfection, setting high standards in every aspect of his life. Welcoming goodness and beauty, saying yes to sharing, to champagne, to the conviviality of eating and drinking, to enthusiasm, obstinacy, innovation and a pioneering spirit. Yes again to clearheaded altruism, generosity and emotion. But no to sluggish, passive behaviour and people who give up before they have even tried.

Constantly Creative

A pioneering spirit, Michel Chapoutier always has a new challenge on his mind, ever on the move, his eyes fixed on the horizon. He conveys his ambition to his team, sowing ideas to make them grow, never following nor copying, always initiating and creating, opening the way. He takes his convictions to their logical conclusion, with no fear of being side-tracked or going against the grain.
