The Gerin family’s wine domaine has had its roots in the heart of the Côte-Rôtie vineyards, in Ampuis, for 6 generations. Côte-Rôtie, located 30 km south of Lyon, is the most northerly AOC in the Rhône Valley, covering some 320 hectares. Thanks to the influence of the Mediterranean and continental climates, the wines possess a combination of tannic power, silkiness and elegance. The main grape variety, Syrah, is sometimes blended with Viognier to create wines with additional finesse.
The domaine’s history began with the purchase of a plot of vines in the Côte-Rôtie, marking the creation of Domaine Jean-Michel Gerin in 1983. The family business, inherited from grandfather Marcel Gerin and father Alfred Gerin, was taken over in 1987 and the first bottles of wine were produced. In 1988, the first single-vineyard vinification of “Les Grandes Places” lieu-dit was carried out, followed by “La Landonne” in 1996. In 1990, a vat room and barrel cellar were built, and, in 2000, a bottle store was added.
Planting of the “La Viallière” lieu-dit, on slopes with gradients of up to 60%, began in 2003. The first bottles of wine from this terroir were produced in 2009. In 2018, the “Côte-Bodin” lieu-dit was vinified separately. Planted 30 years ago by Jean-Michel, this exceptional Côte-Rôtie terroir is now coming into its own.
Today, the domaine covers almost 17 hectares, and the family’s two sons, Michaël and Alexis, are trying out new approaches, particularly when it comes to viticulture. The conversion to organic growing was initiated in 2020, presenting another exciting challenge for the domaine.
