Maison Régnard (Chablis, France)

Our first experience in Chablis took place began wonderfully with a visit to Maison Régnard. Chablis is located to the Our host Maxime delivered a great private tour of the facilities, clearly explaining Maison Régnard’s viticulture and wine production processes. We were amazed by the extremely modern production facilities within a winery dating back to 1860, and even more impressed that the owner, Baron Patrick de Ladoucette has wineries throughout France and Italy.

Thanks to Maxime, we learned about the the green, blue, orange, or red sticker on the top of a French wine bottle’s cork called the Marianne. The Marianne signifies that duty has been paid to the French government and authorizes the distribution and sales of the wine within France. Thus, you will not find these stickers on bottles outside of France. Who is Marianne? She’s the symbol of the French Republic and can be seen in Liberty Leading the People painting by Eugène Delacroix currently on display in the Louvre.

Following our tour, Maxime led us through the tasting of the range of Chablis produced by the estate. For those ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) drinkers, this experience will forever change your mind about Chardonnay. The Petit Chablis was extremely refreshing, perfect for a much-needed warm summer day as our experience was at the end of January. The Village-level and Premier Cru showcased greater aroma complexities and a fuller body compared to the Petit Chablis, with evidence of bottle ageing in their slight hints of honey and petrol aromas. The grand finale was our favorite, the 2013 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots, as this wine was just so yummy, yes, I just used that term, with such a vast array of aromas and flavors that lingered in our mouths for what seemed like forever. Needless to say, we didn’t spit this one out during the tasting:-)

For those visiting the Chablis region, the Grand Cru vineyards sites are are great place to visit, when it's not raining. There is a hiking route that connects all the vineyards, with placards explaining the vineyard at vista points.

Experience Rating: 3 Stars

Brodi's Rating: 2 Paws Up

Website: https://regnard-chablis.deladoucette.fr/

Pet-Friendly: Yes

Experience Vibe: Private Experience, Production Facilities Tour, Standing Bar Tasting

Reservations Needed: Yes