PIERRE GAILLARD

This astute and sturdy artisan is one of the northern Rhône’s most capable winemakers. Initially assembling his skills at Guigal and Vidal-Fleury, Pierre Gaillard took the leap of faith in 1981 with his first land purchase in Saint-Joseph, expanding his empire in time into Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu.

Gaillard produces exciting wines, lush and concentrated, with an innate freshness that sets them apart. His hallmark is an unerring ability to choose the best, most compatible parcels and combine them into a wonderfully harmonious blend. Relentless work on often unforgiving slopes, and a delicate touch in the cellar, produces an end result that radiates precision and purity.

When he was 12 years old he was caught plowing a nearby parcel with a horse. He studied Viticulture and Enology in Beaune, and obtained a Graduate Diploma in Winemaking from Montpellier. Vineyard Manager for a highly-regarded estate in Côte-Rôtie. In 1981, he bought his first parcel of land, Clos de Cuminailles in Malleval. In 1987, he established his business in the upper part of the medieval town of Malleval. In 2002, he created the estate of Madeloc in Banyuls-sur-Mer. In 2007, he created the estate of Cottebrune in Faugères. Today, Pierre manages a total of 77 hectares.