Around the original farmhouse, the facilities have grown substantially – ageing cellar, shop, offices… And with a little help from his friends, led by Georges Vernay, Louis Chèze has created a signature winemaking style, with thoroughbred cuvées that beguile so many experts. He now has a reputation, but it has not gone to his head. Celebrities and locals are all welcomed in the same simple way. A low-key Ardéchois, Louis wants his wines to remain affordable, and talks about his profession in whispered words of wisdom:
“There are no universal methods, in the vineyards or the cellar. Each vintage is a fresh challenge.”
Tomorrow, then, will always be a story yet to be told. And it is better that way. What Louis does know, however, is that his son Benoît is taking over. And that makes him very happy.