Domaine de Fa

It is not only estates from Burgundy’s Côte d’Or who have implanted themselves in Beaujolais. Plans to renovate a family residence in the Macon combined with the desire for new wine making challenges led the brothers Antoine and Maxime Graillot, whose work in Crozes-Hermitage needs no introduction, to purchase some magnificent vineyards in Beaujolais, Saint-Amour and Fleurie. In doing so, Domaine de Fa was born. Fa is short for Faye, which is the lieu-dit where the Graillots have set up their operations in a former stable turned winery.

2014 was their first vintage, a single Beaujolais labeled with the lieu-dit “En Besset,” which was sourced from the first vineyards they purchased, grouping together vineyards in Beaujolais and Saint-Amour. As of 2015, these wines are bottled separately in their own appellations, as well as a Fleurie, lieu-dit “Roche Guillon.”

The vineyards are farmed biodynamically. For winemaking, Antoine and Maxime designed the chai to work by gravity. They vinify with whole clusters, entirely in concrete, for a maximum of 10 days. Wines are aged predominately in foudres, with a small proportion of used barriques and demi-muids. The result are wines which have that Graillot signature, dense and structured but without sacrificing immediate accessibility.