Domaine Guffens-Heynen

It was in the 1970s that Maine and Jean-Marie Guffens-Heynen made the decision to pack up and leave their native Flanders. They headed to Burgundy in the pursuit of learning French and becoming winemakers. After a pleasant sabbatical spent pursuing the arts (fine art for Maine, theatre and architecture for Jean-Marie), the Belgian couple finally settled down to achieving their initial dream. Jean-Marie signed up to the viticulture school in Mâ...

The estate holdings split across three communes give Guffens-Heynen access to three Mâconnais appellations. Pouilly-Fuissé covers about one hectare across five climats on the Vergisson slope: Les Croux(with Clos des Petits Croux), Sur la Roche, Les Crays, La Côte, and En Carémentrant. Les Crays and Sur la Roche were both included in the September 2020 INAO classification of 22 Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Crus, formalizing arguments Guffens-Heynen a...

Domaine Guffens-Heynen’s winemaking is legendary for defying traditional Burgundian norms. Maverick winemaker Jean-Marie Guffens combines uncompromising manual vineyard work, natural methods, and highly unconventional cellar techniques to achieve an extraordinary level of intensity, texture, and minerality in his Chardonnay wines.

In April 2016, Guffens-Heynen’s vines were hit by a heavy dose of hail. An early spring and a dry summer allowe...