Domaine David Bienfait

FRANCE, Burgundy

The vineyards of David Bienfait are located in the southern region of Burgundy. Spread over about 6 hectares, the vineyards are located on beautiful terroirs around the town of Bussières and produce 3 classic wines within the appellations of Mâcon-Villages, Saint-Véran and Pouilly Fuissé.

As a winegrower, David loves to work in the open air, and he can regularly be found in the vineyards. Enthusiastic about nature, he consciously opts for organic viticulture: no use of chemical pesticides or pesticides to stimulate soil life as much as possible. As little as possible is intervened in both the vineyard and the cellar. For example, the wines are only lightly filtered before bottling and the wines are not fined. Also, the use of sulphite is minimal. The Pouilly-Fuissés mature in oak barrels that are four to five years old. The Mâcon-Villages only matures on stainless steel to offer a fresher style of chardonnay. With all wines, stirring the lees regularly takes place to give the wines extra taste and complexity.

 

Winemaker & owner

Domaine David Bienfait

Winegrower David Bienfait does not come from a winemaker family. In his youth he used to live next to a winegrower in Prissé and as a child, he could often be found there. After an internship with his neighbor during high school, he chooses to study at the viticulture School of Davayé. After another internship in New Zealand, he returned to Burgundy at the age of 25 to start his own winery in 2009.

He started with 1.8 hectares in AOP Pouilly-Fuissé, including the lieu-dit of Les Crays in Vergission, with vines from the 40s. He also had a number of plots in AOP Saint-Veran and Mâcon-Villages. He has now completed his thirteenth harvest and has managed to expand his holdings in vineyards to 6 hectares. The winery and cellars are located in Bussières, a few steps from the famous rock of Vergisson. The vineyards themselves are planted in Vergisson, Davayé and Charnay.  Since the 2020 harvest, his plot of Les Crays in Vergission has been promoted to Premier Cru.

“Passionate about nature, I focus my efforts on careful work in the vineyard in order to obtain ripe grapes of irreproachable quality.”

Winemaking

Our philosophy

New generation winemaker has realized his dream in the heart of the Mâconnais.

  • Independently built winery

  • Organic viticulture with a boost for living soil

  • Minimal intervention during vinification

  • Lieu dit Les Crays promoted to Premier Cru

Collection

Our wines

The vineyards of David Bienfait are located in the southern region of Burgundy. Spread over about 6 hectares, the vineyards are located on beautiful terroirs around the town of Bussières and produce 3 classic wines within the appellations of Mâcon-Villages, Saint-Véran and Pouilly Fuissé.

WHITE WINE

Mâcon-Villages

The grapes come from the village of Charnay-lès-Mâcon with slopes facing east. In total, there is a property of 1.09 hectares with a view of the Mont Blanc. The wine undergoes a temperature-controlled fermentation on stainless steel tanks of 16 to 18° C, in order to preserve the aromas. The wine undergoes a complete malolactic fermentation and matures for another 7 months on stainless steel resulting in a fresh style chardonnay.

 

Straw yellow color with subtle gold tones. The nose shows aromas of yellow fruit and peach and some white hazelnuts. Sufficient freshness thanks to the pleasant integrated acids and the malolactic fermentation gives roundness and softness. Accessible style chardonnay with good drinkability.

WHITE WINE

Pouilly-Fuissé Les Crays 1er Cru

The grapes come from the vineyard Les Crays in Vergisson, against the steep flanks the rock of Vergisson, facing south and lie at an average altitude of 350 meters. In 2020, this lieu-dit was promoted to Premier Cru. The vines have been planted in 1940 on a soil of marl with a lot of lime and stones. The alcoholic fermentation is done on temperature controlled tanks from 16 to 18° C, in order to preserve the aromas.  The wine then undergoes a complete malolactic fermentation and matures for 14 months in oak barrels.

 

Straw yellow color with gold tones. The nose clearly lets the terroir speak, the minerality splashes off thanks to the chalk base of Les Crays. Beautiful notes of vanilla and roasted hazelnuts are complemented by ripe yellow fruit and peach. In the mouth a lot of elegance and finesse. Thanks to the well-integrated oak aging, a lot of length and a nice round body.