Château de la Chaize

Château de La Chaize is among the oldest, most historic estates in the Beaujolais region. Cared for by the same family for nearly three and a half centuries, the estate has been passed on to new owners, equally committed to restoring the former splendor of the estate, while implementing an ambitious environmental plan.

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FLEURIE “LA CHAPELLE DES BOIS”
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BROUILLY “LA CHAIZE”- MONOPOLE
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CÔTES DE BROUILLY “BRULHIER”
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FLEURIE
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BROUILLY
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CÔTE DE BROUILLY
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HISTORY

François de La Chaize d’Aix, steward of Lyon, purchased the land known as La Douze at the foot of Mont Brouilly, in southern Beaujolais. He hired France’s most esteemed architects at the time to build the château and assigned André Le Nôtre, famed gardener to the king, who later developed the gardens of Versailles, to build the picturesque gardens around Château de La Chaize. The winery remained with the Chaize family for the next two centuries, preserving one of the largest and most historic properties in the Beaujolais region. Eventually in 2017, the family decided to sell the estate and vineyards to the Gruy family, who immediately commenced an ambitious and unprecedented rehabilitation project at the winery.

TERROIR

The AOC Brouilly is the most spread-out of the 10 Beaujolais crus and lies at the crossroads of 4 distinct terroirs. It is the southernmost and the most complex of the crus, with its steep hillsides of pink granite. Château de La Chaize’s vineyard holdings within Brouilly include 11 climats. The estate also owns vineyards in the Côte de Brouilly, Fleurie, and Morgon and in Pouilly-Fuissé within the Mâconnais region.

The winery is located in Brouilly, on a natural amphitheater with south/southeast exposure, on steep hillsides of sandy pink granite that allow for excellent drainage. Made from a selection of the estate’s best vines, grapes are hand-harvested in small vented crates, which prevents grapes from getting crushed and prematurely oxidizing. Each parcel of vineyard is carefully demarcated into lieux-dits according to soil type and aspect and then vinified separately to preserve the parcel’s unique qualities.

PEOPLE

Château de La Chaize was purchased by Christophe Gruy in 2017. Christophe is also the managing director and president of Groupe Maïa in Lyon, a real estate and hospitality group. As a jewel within their hospitality sector, Groupe Maïa is committed to operating Château de La Chaize with the utmost care and excellence that this historic property deserves. Leading the restoration and environmental projects at Chaize is Boris Gruy, head winemaker and nephew of Christophe. A plant specialist, Boris is implementing an ambitious HVE (High Environmental Value) certification and transitioning the entire estate to organic viticulture, with a goal of becoming biodynamic.