Today, let’s read the portrait of a passionate Beaujolais winemaker: Jean-luc Longère. A winemaker in the great and beautiful region of Beaujolais, south of Burgundy. The Domaine Longère is based in the little village of Le Perreon.
First of all, do you know this beautiful region of BEAUJOLAIS, also known as “little Tuscany“? The Beaujolais vineyard is located in the north of the Rhône department and in a few communes of Saône-et-Loire.
The vineyard backs onto the Beaujolais mountains; it is exposed to the east or south-east. The vineyard is spread out between the first slopes, separated from the Saone River by a valley too fertile for vines and the beginning of the Beaujolais forest between around 1 750 high Feet depending on the exposure and the microclimate. Established on essentially granite soils in the north and limestone in the south, it mainly produces red wine made from the Gamay grape, but also white wine made from the Chardonnay grape and rosé from the Gamay grape. The variety of the terroirs has made it possible to create twelve appellations: Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages, Brouilly, Chénas, Chiroubles, Côte de Brouilly, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-à-vent, Régnié and Saint-Amour.
For more information about wine tour in France, do not hesitate to visit our website and check out this 100% customizable itinerary in Burgundy and Beaujolais.
Becoming a winemaker has always been my vocation. Even if I hesitated with the world of cooking. However, for Madame, she was a model maker and swapped the chisel for the secateurs! Our domaine is the adventure of a couple’s lifetime, we have devoted all our energy to it for years, the turn of our daughters who wish to get involved is also approaching as we get older…
Our domaine has been a family-type estate for six generations. I think we can call ourselves artisans. As a very small company, we often have to be in three places at once: in the vines, admin work in the office and on the road!
- Atypical, 4 hectares (against 10 on average in Beaujolais) with 30% in white Chardonnay against average 2% with for the region.
- Regarding the environment, no certification (ex Terra Vitis) but real in-depth work since 1987.
- 100% direct sales, mainly individuals (France but also Belgium, Germany, Austria and England), some restaurants in France, Belgium and Canada.
To be a good winemaker you should definitely have some ability at sensory analysis, an understanding of statistics and scientific experimentation and people management skills. But chemistry and microbiology are at the heart of it.
But if I had to choose 4 qualities:
- Be meticulous
- Be demanding
- Be persevering
- Be curious
My profession is in perpetual movement starting in the vines of course. For exemple, climate change is already impacting the grape and wine community. But I also discovered over the years the commercial aspects of my job. There are so many different domains and wines in France. It is a competitive field, and so it is necessary to meet new people and use ” bouche-à-oreille “. A successful company is made with great encounters.
Very curious, no prejudices, we like the peppery aromas of Syrah and the tension of Sauvignon. Not to mention the inimitable freshness of Gamay Noir.
Without hesitation, a 1959 Beaujolais Villages, drunk with my father for my thirtieth birthday in 1989 and vinified by him.
The Covid-19 has been very impactful on restaurants and fewer individuals, which had a direct impact on us. Because as I said earlier our main clients are restaurants and individuals.
2020 will be like the three previous vintages solar: rich, generous and juicy. Thank you to the gamay full of freshness. Warming suits the winegrower and questions the landlowner.
From June with a tender green of the vines to October and its magnificent orange colors.
I hope this Portrait of a passionate Beaujolais winemaker will have given you the desire to discover our winegrowers who, everywhere in France, will welcome you with professionalism, smile and passion! Come and discover some itineraries on Trip My France.
If you enjoyed this portrait of one of our local insider, check out our portrait of Emmanuel, our passionate driver/guide in Swiss Alps.
