Regnie Durette in Beaujolais

The smallest vineyard in Beaujolais makes great grapes. Brouilly is the strongest of the wines of Beaujolais. The grape roots must fight their way through the underground rock, and the wine is aged longer. At our wine tasting we found it delicious. We were at the Chateau des Ravatys, the Domaine of l’Institute Pasteur. This vineyard, strangely, is characterized as a “charity.” It was founded by a nurse in the early twentieth century. It does not export or market its wines outside the estate. However, it produces such fine wines that oenophiles throughout the world subscribe annually to receive cases of its product, and it sells a small amount here at the vineyard store. All profits that are not reinvested into the winemaking operation are used to support the local hospital.Read more