Vézelay

Vézelay is a small appellation in the northern Yonne — not Chablis, not the Côte d’Or, but a place with its own geological story and its own distinctive character. The Kimmeridgian limestone here is the same ancient seabed formation that defines the mineral, saline character of Chablis — an iodine-rich mix of grey marl and limestone studded with fossilised oysters, formed around 155 million years ago when this part of France sat beneath a shallow sea.

The wines from Vézelay tend toward freshness, mineral tension, and a saline quality that reflects the ancient seabed beneath. They are not Chablis — the soils, the altitude, and the winemaking approach produce something distinct. Du Grappin’s Vézelay Blanc comes from the Merlutte vineyard — 35-year-old Chardonnay vines on Kimmeridgian soil, fermented one-third in old oak foudre and two-thirds in concrete egg, twelve months on full lees. The white we recommend for everyday drinking and by-the-glass programs.