Born into a family of winegrowers, it’s Albert Despres who built the estate with a modern vat room back in 1965. He used gravity to vinify whole bunches of grapes without using a pump that could damage the harvest.
The estate takes its name from the small chapel built at the top of the hill and overlooking the village of Fleurie. Topped with a statue of the Virgin Mary, it dates back to 1866 and was built by winegrowers to protect the vines against powdery mildew (vine disease). The vines planted on this hill are called the classified climate “la Madone”. Arnaud’s great-great-grandfather was among the winegrowers who hoisted the statue to the top of the chapel with the help of their oxen.
The estate was then taken over by Jean Marc Despres, Albert’s son, who continues to operate the estate by developing bottled sales and exports. In the 1990s, following the construction, the vat room was enlarged.
Arnaud, Jean Marc's son, develops the estate and takes over the "Domaine du Niagara": 5 acres of vines on the highest hill in Fleurie! The estate now extends over 18 acres of Fleurie.
An entire working year can be wiped out in a few seconds by a hailstorm, sometimes destroying the entire crop. For this reason, in 1911, two inventors decided to erect enormous electric pylons in the Beaujolais area, as well as in other regions of France. The most famous is certainly the Eiffel Tower, which was similarly equipped.
These pylons were intended to prevent the formation of hailstones by neutralizing the electricity held in thunder-clouds or, if already formed, making them fall softly without force. The pylons allowed electric charges from the earth to dissipate in large quantities into the atmosphere, thus neutralizing those in the clouds.
A considerable amount of money was invested in these pylons, which rose to an impressive (at that time) 40 meters in height, which is why the system was named “NIAGARA” by its inventors. In the language of the time, the term Niagara indicated something grandiose, just like the famous waterfalls. Having cost a great deal to erect, and having yielded poor results, the Niagara pylons were dismantled in 1921. The pylon is now long gone, undoubtedly for the better, leaving only the name to describe the grandiose beauty of the site itself.
The Fleurie Vieilles Madone 2005 is voted best wine in the world at the International Wine Challenge competition in London!
First vine in the “Viognier” grape variety planted on the terroir of Fleurie and more precisely on the hillside of Madone. The cultivation of this sloping plot is done without weedkiller, entirely plowed and dug by hand.
It offers a panoramic view of the vineyard and the Saône Valley.
“I am pleased to welcome you to the Auberge de La Madone since 2012. My winemaker spirit has made it a simple and friendly place, where we like to eat or meet up for a drink. Fleurie, my village, known for its great wines, its art of living, its attachment to local products and its sumptuous landscapes delights me every day. I deeply love my region and my dearest wish is to share it with you. I hope to welcome you for a pleasant Fleuriaton moment.”
Arnaud Despres
The vines are cultivated in such a way as to prioritize quality while respecting the environment. Major efforts are currently being made in the management of the vines to improve the maturation of the grapes and increase biodiversity. The estate is now certified High Environmental Value (HVE level 3)
The grapes are harvested manually by around thirty harvesters and are rigorously sorted to keep the ripest and healthiest. Arnaud Despres vinifies his wine traditionally and in accordance with the ancestral rules of the appellation by bringing out the terroir and the fruit. This allows him to obtain a fruity wine for laying down. After aging in vats or barrels for 6 months to 2 years depending on the vintage, the wine is bottled on the property.
New tasting room! We have been welcoming you to our new tasting room and shop since 2023. You will find our entire range for tasting, the estate's goodies, the local products, etc.
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