René Delagrange, Didier’s grandfather, bottled the entire harvest of Volnay 1er Cru ‘Clos des Chênes’.
1978
Gisèle and Henri Delagrange farmed the now six hectares, spread over the appellations of Volnay and Pommard.
1990
They were joined by their son Didier Delagrange. Working together for 23 years, they planted the white and red vineyards of Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, thus more than doubling the size of the estate, bringing the acreage to 13.5 hectares.
2003
Didier took over the reins of the estate, continuing the family adventure with his wife Hélène.
2005
The couple decided to expand, and they acquired 0.45 hectares in the neighbouring Meursault and, a little further north, 0.65 hectares in the renowned Aloxe-Corton appellation.
2008
In order to extend their range of wines, the couple produced new white appellations (Saint-Romain, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Chassagne 1er Cru ‘La Maltroie’) and, at the same time, a red appellation (Volnay 1er Cru ‘Les Santenots’). These wines were vinified, matured and bottled at the estate under the Didier Delagrange label.
2009
With the acquisition of vines located in the Volnay 1er Cru ‘Les Champans’ appellation, Hélène and Didier further increased the acreage of the estate, bringing it up to its present-day size of 15 hectares.
THE CURRENT VINTAGE OF WINEMAKERS AND THEIR VISION
The 2017 vintage bears the mark of Alexis Delagrange, the eldest son of Hélène and Didier, now working at the estate.
Following his studies in Beaune wine school, the young man gained experience at Domaine Jacques Prieur in Meursault. He then travelled through the vineyards of the ‘new world’, taking him to the renowned wineries of Vriesenhof in South Africa, Bethel Heights in Oregon, Fromm Winery in New Zealand and Cupitt’s Family in Australia. Immersed in these varied terroirs, Alexis discovered another approach to the most elegant and fragile of grape varieties, Pinot Noir, and learned about others too. He was enriched by a new vision of viticulture in all its diversity, complexity and subtlety.
Inspired by this world tour and deeply attached to his roots, Alexis brings a new perspective, with a subtle blend of modernity and tradition, of progress and respect for the land.
Alexis’s younger brothers are discreetly following in his footsteps. Benjamin Delagrange, with an eye on the world of the wine trade, and Arthur Delagrange, with an agricultural diploma (BTS) in wine growing and oenology, have each joined the world of their elders in turn, and they have become part of the family’s vinous wine history in their own way.
The three men share the same passion for wine and a deep attachment to the family estate and the land at the centre of it all.
