Joseph Mellot

Domain Joseph Mellot is recognised as a benchmark of exceptional quality in over 40 countries around the world. Producing fine wines from Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Pouilly-sur-Loire, Coteaux du Giennois, Menetou Salon, Quincy, Reuilly and Chateaumeillant, Domain Joseph Mellot is an ambassador for the fine wines of the Central Loire Valley.

A family history dating back to 1513

The Mellot family name has been associated with winemaking since 1513. César Mellot, who gained recognition as wine advisor to Louis XIV, was at the head of a long dynasty of passionate winemakers whose know-how has been passed down from generation to generation.

In the 1920s, Alphonse Mellot, Alexandre’s great grandfather, was the first Sancerre producer to exhibit his wines at the Foire de Paris. He went on to receive numerous medals at events in the wine and food industries. He later opened a wine warehouse in Paris’ “Halle aux Vins” in Bercy in order to develop sales in the capital. His two sons, Edmond and Joseph, took over from him in 1946.

In 1969, Edmond and Joseph Mellot divided up the Alphonse Mellot domain. Joseph Mellot took over the winery and gave it his name.

In the 1960s, Joseph Mellot was already exporting wines to Denmark, the Netherlands and Great Britain: from there on the domain’s reputation continued to grow.

In 1984, Joseph’s son, Alexandre, Catherine Corbeau Mellot’s husband, took over the family estate. Alexandre Mellot was a pioneer who believed in the huge potential of the wines of Sancerre and the Central vineyards of the Loire Valley. He expanded the vineyards, modernised the winery’s equipment and boosted export sales. He was joined in 1987 by his wife Catherine who took over the sales and marketing operations.

Today, Catherine Corbeau Mellot continues her husband’s work, overseeing the domain’s 100 hectares, among vineyards distributed across the different Central Loire Valley appellations. Her attention to detail and flair for winemaking have led the Joseph Mellot estate to greater success. Making wines from the Pouilly-Fumé appellation since 1982, the Domain Joseph Mellot demonstrates its belief in the complementarity of Central Loire Valley wines. Progressively expanding into the appellations of Quincy, Reuilly, Menetou-Salon, and Coteaux du Giennois, the Domain demonstrates a belief in the individuality of each terroir and preserving the distinct characteristics that make each of these wines unique.

1994: Acquisition of the Jacques Marchand estate in the Pouilly-Fumé appellation area.

1995: Joseph Mellot takes over Pierre Duret in Quincy.

1999: The Clos du Pressoir in Menetou-Salon and a vineyard in Coteaux du Giennois join Joseph Mellot.

2001: Acquisition of Jean Michel Sorbe’s vineyards in Quincy and Reuilly.

2002: Creation of a winery in Quincy, designed to receive the grapes harvested in Quincy and Reuilly. This winery, which was named “Le Sentier du Vin” (The Wine Trail), also includes a tasting room and an outdoor educational walking tour.

Currently, the size of the Domain Joseph Mellot allows excellent wines to be offered for export sales. Numerous restaurants and luxury establishments from Asia and America to Scandinavia and Eastern Europe feature Joseph Mellot’s wines. Served at some of the world’s finest tables, our wines have gained international renown.

Further achievements:

In June 2009, Joseph Mellot adopted a proactive stance on sustainable development by becoming the first winery among the Central vineyards of the Loire Valley to obtain ISO 14001 certification, an international standard for environmental management systems.

Joseph Mellot, sole domain to own vineyards in all of the Central Loire Valley appellation areas

Our different vineyards cover all of the appellations of the Central Loire Valley, each producing their wines in-house. This enables us to offer our customers the opportunity to discover the range and complexity of wines produced in the Central Loire Valley, benefiting from the diversity of terroirs and the quintessential characteristics of their grape varieties.

The Joseph Mellot vineyards are managed according to principles of:

Sustainable pest control: prolonged observation of vine plots and climatic conditions and the implementation of environmentally responsible treatment programmes which take into consideration the real risk of disease development.

Yield management: systematic vine-pruning, disbudding, crop thinning if necessary and shoot thinning.

Vine plot traceability: all plots are monitored by computer to ensure complete traceability in production.

Harvesting: From the beginning of September or even late August, grape samples are taken regularly to monitor levels of maturity. Grapes are harvested at full maturity and sorted carefully to ensure that the juice is of the best quality. Each plot is harvested and vinified separately, with the grape harvest lasting approximately a fortnight.

Expressing the essence of each individual terroir “We are continually experimenting and refining our vinification and ageing techniques in a perpetual quest to improve the quality of our wines. Each wine should express the essence of its particular terroir.” Norbert Buchonnet, cellar master.

Joseph Mellot is currently the only domain that vinifies all of the appellations from the Central vineyards of the Loire Valley. Some Joseph Mellot wines are made using grapes harvested from vineyards belonging to the domain, while others are made using grapes provided by winemaker partners. In both cases, Joseph Mellot expertise ensures the quality of vinification and a rigorous approach throughout the vinification and ageing processes.

When the grapes arrive at the winery they are subjected to meticulous checks. Passing through the destemming machine, they undergo an initial sorting that eliminates unwanted debris and removes any unripe berries. For the white wines, the grapes are then slowly pressed in pneumatic presses with the aim of extracting as pure a juice as possible.

For the finest terroirs, the grapes are left to macerate in contact with their skins before being pressed. This delicate operation requires grapes that are in perfect health along with hourly checks to prevent any oxidation or premature fermentation. The juice is cold-settled at 10°C which allows a clear juice to be obtained, giving greater finesse to the wine. Vinification methods vary depending on the terroir, according to the typicity of each vineyard.Fermentation takes place over a period of 10 to 15 days at temperatures of between 17° and 20°c; any higher temperatures would detract from the wine’s aromatic qualities. The wine is then ready to be aged on fine lees in tanks.

Bottling takes place throughout the year, although wines are left to rest before departing for sale. For the red wines, after careful sorting of the harvest, the whole grapes are transferred to tanks. They are then macerated for 24 hours, a process which allows a considerable amount of flavour to be released. Fermentation lasts from 8 to 10 days with temperatures maintained between 25° and 30°C. The wine is aged and stored during the winter in either barrels or tanks. Bottling takes place in the spring after a light fining. The Joseph Mellot domain uses oak barrels to vinify wines from its exceptional terroirs. The juice ferments slowly for several months in underground cellars, enabling a subtle harmony to progressively develop between the wine and the barrels made of oak from the region’s forests (Saint-Palais and Allogny). These special cuvées represent the successful alliance of a grape variety, a terroir and expert vinification.

Joseph Mellot worldwide…

The Joseph Mellot domain has spent years refining its techniques to produce wines that are as pleasant as they are elegant, where the terroir is expressed with finesse. Firmly rooted in the magnificent Central Loire Valley, Joseph Mellot wines travel far and wide, complementing food experiences from around the world.

Whether these be the fruity flavours of a Crottin de Chavignol goat’s cheese, the spicy tones of Asian cuisine, or the salty freshness of a seafood plateau, there’s a perfect partner for every taste encounter among the wines of Joseph Mellot.

The world’s top chefs recommend Joseph Mellot wines. From world famous gastronomic restaurants to classic traditional brasseries, Joseph Mellot wines take pride of place on their wine lists.

Joseph Mellot works in partnership with wine enthusiasts from around the world: from New York and Tokyo to Moscow, Helsinki and Shanghai…