Domaine de l`Arfentière

Domaine de l`Arfentière is a family estate run by husband and wife Raphael and Marylène Sallet. Located in Uchizy, in the Mâconnais, the Domaine`s vineyards stretch between the villages of Uchizy, Plottes and Chardonnay. Coming from a family of winemakers, from an early age Raphael Sallet was alongside his father Gérard, passionate for the work of the vine. His ambition was to produce his own wine, which would allow him to oversee the whole process, from vine cultivation to winemaking and finally managing sales of the bottled product. In 1986, at the age of 21, he established his Domaine, with the acquisition of 0.15 hectares of vineyards. 1987 was his first (tiny!) vintage. Over the years, the estate has expanded to its current area of 26 hectares. Raphael`s philosophy is that winemaking should be minimalistic, with his sole objective being to reveal the true nature of Mâconnais Chardonnay – its freshness and aromatic purity. He seeks finesse and the perfect balance between richness and liveliness. This he achieves first and foremost by meticulous vineyard management, ensuring that soils are nutured and alive, and the vines healthy with their production carefully controlled. Since 2019, the Domaine has held HVE Level 3 certification (High Environmental Value).