E. Guigal

History

E. Guigal was founded in 1946 by Étienne Guigal in Ampuis, a small village at the heart of the Côte-Rôtie appellation. Étienne, who had previously worked at Vidal Fleury for 15 years, established his own winery after appreciating the potential of the Rhône Valley. He worked tirelessly to promote the wines and the appellation, focusing on quality despite the lack of Premier or Grand Cru classification.

In 1961, Étienne's son Marcel took over the business after his father's temporary blindness. Marcel, who was just 21 at the time, continued his father's legacy by establishing premium labels such as La Mouline in 1966. He innovated by focusing on individual plots and vinifying these wines in new French oak barriques for 42 months, shifting the local wine industry's focus from quantity to quality.

Under Marcel's leadership, the Guigal family expanded significantly. They acquired Vidal Fleury in 1984 and added domains Jean-Louis Grippat and de Vallouit in 2000. In 2006, they purchased Domaine de Bonserine, and in 2017, they acquired Château de Nalys in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, marking their entry into the southern Rhône Valley. Today, the third generation, represented by Philippe Guigal, continues the family's commitment to producing exceptional wines from various Rhône Valley appellations.

Terroir

E. Guigal's terroir is characterized by diverse soil compositions across its various vineyards. In Côte Rôtie, the terroir includes silicone, granite, and limestone soils on the Côte Blonde, while the Côte Brune has a terroir of schist, granite, and clay soil rich in iron. The vineyards on Côte Blonde have loose soils of granite, gneiss, limestone, and various minerals, which contribute to the unique flavor profiles of their wines. The steep hillside vineyards, particularly La Landonne, feature soils with up to a 45-degree gradient, making them challenging to farm but resulting in wines with pronounced minerality and complexity.

The vineyards are also influenced by the climate and geography of the Rhône Valley. The Mistral winds and Provencal sunshine contribute to the wines' distinctive flavors, while the steep slopes ensure that the grapes receive optimal sunlight and drainage. This combination of terroir elements, along with meticulous vineyard management and winemaking techniques, results in wines that are renowned for their complexity, intensity, and age-worthiness.