Domaine Arnaud Chapuis is a small, natural wine estate in Échevronne, Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, Burgundy, France, run by Arnaud Chapuis. Operating since 2014, Chapuis farms ~2.5 hectares of organic vineyards, producing ~5,000–7,000 bottles annually of Aligoté, Pinot Noir, and pétillant naturel, labeled as Vin de France due to minimal-intervention practices that don’t conform to appellation rules. His wines, often called Ouverture, are unfiltered, sulfite-free, and crafted with indigenous yeasts, emphasizing purity and low yields (15–20 hl/ha). Working alongside prestigious estates like Prieuré Roch and Chandon de Briailles, Chapuis is a rising star in Burgundy’s natural wine scene, praised for his “primitive” yet masterful Aligoté and Pinot Noir. His wines are exported to Europe and the US, with high demand due to limited production.

Winemaking Philosophy

• Organic Viticulture: Chapuis farms 1.5 hectares of Aligoté and Pinot Noir (planted 1930–1970) inherited from his grandfather near Échevronne, plus 1 hectare of Pinot Noir planted in 2018–2020. Vines are organic, with wide spacing, high training, and significant grass cover to promote biodiversity. No synthetic pesticides or herbicides are used; minimal plowing preserves soil health. Manual harvests and low yields (15–20 hl/ha) ensure concentrated fruit. The terroir, with limestone and marl soils, imparts minerality and finesse, distinct from Jura’s marly limestone.

• Natural Winemaking: Zero additives, including sulfites, with spontaneous fermentation using native yeasts. Grapes are hand-pressed in a manual vertical press (20–24 hours) at his parents’ house in Échevronne, then vinified in barrels or tanks at his cellar in Détain. Aligoté cuvées include direct-press, macerated (1 month), and pétillant naturel styles; Pinot Noir is vinified whole-cluster. Wines are unfiltered, unfined, and aged 12–18 months in neutral barrels, showcasing vibrant fruit, citrus, and rhubarb notes. His “primitive” approach (per John Berger’s art analogy) prioritizes raw, unpolished expression.

• Terroir: Hautes-Côtes de Beaune’s limestone-marl soils and higher altitude (~400m) yield lighter, fresher wines than Côte de Beaune’s richer terroirs, with Aligoté showing unique granularity and Pinot Noir delicate fruit, distinct from Jura’s oxidative Savagnin or Trousseau.

Background

• Winemaker: Arnaud Chapuis, a Comblanchien native, transitioned from marble quarry work to winemaking, earning a BPREA in 2011. He worked at De Suremain, Prieuré Roch, and Chandon de Briailles (where he remains a vineyard worker), gaining experience with organic and biodynamic practices. In 2014, he began vinifying his grandfather’s 1.5-hectare vines, adding 1 hectare in 2018–2020. His Austrian wife, Emmanuelle, occasionally works with Le Soleil winery, connecting him to Burgundy’s natural wine community.

• Vision: To craft “quiet masterpieces” (per Aaron Ayscough) with zero additives, emphasizing old-vine Aligoté’s potential and Pinot Noir’s purity. His refusal of modern additives aligns with the natural wine movement, akin to Yann Durieux or Double Zéro.

• Scale: ~2.5 hectares yield ~5,000–7,000 bottles across 3–4 cuvées. Limited production and high demand (e.g., Unicorn Wines, Wright’s Wines) make wines scarce.

• Challenges: Low yields and organic farming risk weather-related losses (e.g., frost). Sulfite-free vinification demands precision, and Vin de France labeling limits appellation prestige but suits his non-conformist style.