Domaine Désertaux-Ferrand

The Côte de Nuits is the northern half of the famous Côte d'Or - the heart of the Burgundy wine-producing region and the Désertaux-Ferrand family have been winemakers here for generations. The Côte d'Or is an escarpment supporting a narrow band of vineyards stretching 30 miles south of Dijon. Côte d'Or might mean 'golden slope', perhaps evoking its beautiful autumnal tints, but it is in fact an abbreviation of Côte d'Orient - a reference to the fact that the escarpment on which the vines flourish faces east. This escarpment is the fault line separating the hills of the Morvan from the plain of the Saône. 150 million years ago the plain was an inland sea, and the rock is predominantly limestone, which favours both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes.

The expansion of the property to its present size was due mainly to the hard work and dedication of Bernard Désertaux, who was the first winemaker in the Appellation to produce white wine. His son Vincent (married to Geneviève) and daughter Christine are now in charge of the winemaking - and they are producing delicious, award-winning wines.