Our winemaker

For 10 years now, Anne-Laure Hernette has been signing the wines of our Côte Chalonnaise vineyards, notably the Rully and Mercurey wines of Domaine de La Bressande. A true ambassador for the Domain, she guarantees the consistency of the style of the wines, enabling wine enthusiasts to discover the originality and characteristics of the different climates of the Côte Chalonnaise and the tremendous potential of the terroirs of southern Burgundy.

Anne-Laure initially intended to study archaeology, specialising in pre-Columbian civilisation. In other words, nothing suggested that she would make wine, and yet… Ties to Givry changed everything. One summer in the vineyards of the Côte Chalonnaise proved to be love at first sight, leading to a career change and a degree in winegrowing and winemaking at the age of 25!

Givry was the obvious place to start, with three years working on a family estate both in the vineyards and in the cellar, alternating with her studies at the Beaune CFPPA (Professional Training and Agricultural Promotion Centre) This was followed by a great adventure around the world: Australia and its Pinot Noir (!) then New Zealand and its Sauvignon, with winemaking and sales. Then came a six-month culture shock in Argentina, where she worked with Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Our globetrotter returned to France after 18 months of international wine exploration. Anne-Laure started out with the reds of Crozes-Hermitage at the Cave de Tain L’Hermitage, then moved further south to the Lubéron, where she explored new grape varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Roussane, Marsanne and Clairette) and new blends.

Now, Anne-Laure works hand in hand with the Domaine de la Bressande vineyard manager and her team to shape the policy in the vineyards, reflecting a forward-thinking societal and environmental approach. She also oversees the vinification, ageing and preparation of the blends of each vintage.