If you've ever heard the phrase “It runs in the family”, you'll know that talent isn't chosen; it's inherited. Hollywood exemplifies this with Kirk and Michael Douglas, father and son, both Oscar winners, who even shared the screen in “It Runs in the Family” (2003). A testament to talent that leaps from generation to generation, becoming a true legacy.
In the world of wine, the story is equally impressive with the Droin family of Chablis. Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin, located in the captivating region of Chablis in France, has been producing exceptional wines for over five hundred years. Today, the tradition continues with Jean-Paul and his son Benoît, who has been in charge of winemaking since 1999, representing the fourteenth generation of the Droin family dedicated to viticulture.
The domaine encompasses several vineyards spread across Petit Chablis, Chablis, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru, all situated on limestone and marl-rich soils that impart the distinctive minerality making Chablis wines so special.
Among their standout wines is Jean-Paul Benoît Droin Petit Chablis. Cultivated on portlandian soils with pebbles, a “premium” soil for chardonnay, on plateaus at around 200 meters altitude, this wine begins its journey with gentle pneumatic pressing and natural enzymatic settling for 12 to 24 hours at 15°C. Fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks, followed by systematic malolactic fermentation. After 8–10 months of ageing, the batches are blended, clarified if necessary, lightly filtered, and finally bottled.
Jean-Paul Benoit Droin Petit Chablis is a vibrant, fresh, and mineral Petit Chablis, reflecting not only the richness of the terroir but also the passion of a family that has successfully passed down their expertise from father to son over fourteen generations, proving that when talent is shared, the legacy becomes history.