Château-Grillet stands out as a prestigious wine estate in the northern Rhône Valley of France, celebrated for its white wine made exclusively from Viognier grapes. Known for its aromatic complexity, its structure and freshness give it excellent aging potential, often maturing gracefully over 10 to 20 years and developing deeper textures and tertiary aromas.

The estate’s tiny size, between 3.5 and 3.8 hectares, makes it not only one of the smallest appellations in France but also one of the most exclusive. It is designated as a monopole, meaning the entire appellation is owned and operated by a single entity—Château-Grillet itself—which is a rarity in the French AOC system.

The vineyards are planted on steep, terraced slopes of mica-schist soils, facing south to southeast, capturing optimal sunlight while benefiting from excellent drainage. These difficult-to-work plots are entirely hand-harvested, often in multiple passes to ensure optimal ripeness. The yield is purposefully kept very low to maximize concentration and purity.

Historically, Château-Grillet has existed since Roman times and has long held a reputation for producing one of the finest expressions of Viognier in the world. In 2011, the estate was acquired by François Pinault’s Artemis Domaines, which also owns Château Latour and Domaine d’Eugénie, among others. Since then, the estate has undergone substantial investment in both vineyard and cellar, including replanting old terraces, building a modern winery, and adopting sustainable viticulture practices—with a view to preserving tradition and improving precision in winemaking.

Today, Château-Grillet produces a single, age-worthy wine under its own appellation, as well as two other white wines released under the Côtes du Rhône and Condrieu designations. These wines showcase the estate’s terroir with increasing finesse and continue to elevate Château-Grillet’s reputation as a benchmark for Viognier.