Our history
The roots of the
Lathuilière-Gravallon Estate
To this day, our vines have been planted, grown and passed down by 5 generations within our family. A truly passionate work blending ancestral knowledge and modern techniques in order to produce wine of the highest-possible quality.
Located in the heart of the Beaujolais region, our vineyard and soils confer very specific character to each of our wines, as well as some well-known and celebrated appellations.
How it began
Our story begins with our ancestor Jean-Marie DESPRES. During the second half of the nineteenth century, he purchased a few vines along with a couple of heads of cattle and a small plot of farmland.
Passing down the farm
In 1920, his son Antoine DESPRES takes over this small farming operation
Marriage and Growth
In 1944, while the second World War is still raging, Marie-Louise DESPRES, Antoine and Marie-Louise’s daughter, marries Pierre JOMIN. The family operation keeps expanding and now owns 4 hectares of vines.
The Estate
keeps growing
Fernand GRAVALLON marries Renée JOMIN, Pierre and Marie-Louise’s daughter.
The Fernand Gravallon Estate pursues its expansion and now owns 10 hectares of Chiroubles, Fleurie and Morgon vines.
Cathy joins the Estate
Cathy, Fernand and Renée Gravallon’s daughter, joins the family business in 1997. Founded by her great-great-grandfather, the Estate keeps on growing.
Cédric joins
the family business
Cedric, Cathy’s husband, joins the business, as a winemaking worker at first.
The Cedric Lathuilière
Estate is created
2 years after his arrival within the Fernand Gravallon Estate, Cedric creates his own Estate and completes his first harvest, while he’s still employed by the Gravallon Estate.
The Lathuilière-Gravallon
Estate is born
In 2003, the Lathuiliere-Gravallon company, including Cedric, is formed. 128 years after Jean-Marie DESPRES purchased his first vines, the Lathuilière-Gravallon Estate is officially born.
White Beaujolais
We plant our very first white Chardonnay vines – they will produce our Beaujolais Blanc Roche Noire wine.
New plot and retirement
We add a new Brouilly Pisse Vieille plot to the Estate following the retirement of Cédric’s parents, Jean and Raymonde Lathuilière, winemakers as well. That same year, Fernand and Renée Gravallon also retire from the business.
A new vintage,
and a new certification!
In 2018, we complete the first harvest for our GAM vintage, “Jamais sans mon Gamay” (“Not without my Gamay”). This vintage is vinified without any added sulphur or yeast.
That year, we also obtain our HEV label (High Environmental Value), guaranteeing that our wines are produced in accordance with all principles of conservation of the environment.
Find out more on the Lathuilière-Gravallon Estate
The Estate in numbers
years
hectares
appellations
wines
vine varieties
The perfect place for new discoveries
The taste of our terroir
We welcome you into our tasting room, the heart of the Estate, so you can discover the best our production has to offer: Fleurie, Brouilly, Morgon, Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais Blanc…
To ensure your wine-tasting is a fun and convivial time, we always make sure we have plenty of space available to welcome you and your party, no matter the size!