An atypical story
At the crossroads of Burgundy and Beaujolais, Juliénas Chaintré Vignerons Associés was born from a dual foundation, a dual love of wine, and a dual respect for the terroir.
The Cave de Chaintré is one of the oldest cooperative wineries in France. It was founded in 1928 on the site of an ancient Gallo-Roman villa known as Villa Cantriarca. The winegrowers of Chaintré cultivate Chardonnay with passion, and have gradually invested in modern equipment to better control the vinification and ageing of their Mâconnais white wines. La Cave de Chaintré has been going strong for almost 100 years, and its building, ‘Villa Cantriarca’ – now known as ‘Villa Cantrius’ – has continued to evolve over the years.
1928
La Cave de Juliénas, founded in 1961, has its roots at the Château du Bois de la Salle, an iconic 17th-century building. Long occupied by monks, the estate was acquired in 1658 by Baron Charrier de Laroche, Napoleon I’s first chaplain. In 1961, his descendant, Count Serres de Mesples, sold the château to a group of pioneering winegrowers united by a shared ambition: to showcase the richness and authenticity of Beaujolais wines and crus. Raoul Janin, mayor of Jullié, an agricultural engineer in Lyon and vineyard owner, became the first president of the cooperative thus established.
1961
In both Burgundy and Beaujolais, wines were traditionally sold through local wine merchants. To strengthen the direct link between winegrowers and wine lovers, the wineries decided to open their doors. Spaces dedicated to tasting and direct sales were created.
This is how our tasting cellars came into being: at the heart of Château du Bois de la Salle in Juliénas, and at Moulin à l’Or in Chaintré, a site surrounded by vineyards and overlooking the Mâconnais basin.
1963 1965
In 1993, the Cave de Juliénas reached a significant milestone: the winemaking cellar was expanded and fitted with modern equipment to refine the winemaking process. The sales areas and offices were also refurbished, providing a more comfortable working environment for staff and a more welcoming atmosphere for visitors.
1993
A new lease of life between Burgundy and Beaujolais
12 July 2013 marked a decisive turning point: the official merger of Cave de Chaintré and Cave de Juliénas, cementing a natural alliance: Juliénas Chaintré Vignerons Associés was born. This merger highlights the essence of the wineries, reveals their complementary strengths and injects new vitality. In the photograph capturing this momentous occasion, Bernard Galy, on the left, and Frédéric Descombes, on the right, sign the merger agreement, opening a new chapter in their shared history. A powerful gesture, symbolising commitment and shared ambition.
2013
Cooperation at the heart of our winery
Being a cooperative member means taking personal responsibility whilst working for the good of the group.
At the heart of Juliénas Chaintré Vignerons Associés lies cooperation. This unique structure enables independent winegrowers to pool their resources, skills and ambitions to produce quality wines, whilst preserving their identity and expertise.
In a cooperative winery, everyone plays an active role and bears responsibility:
• Members contribute their grapes and expertise, take part in strategic decision-making, and play a part in the collective production of the wines.
• Our staff apply their technical expertise and passion to ensure the quality and consistency of our production, from the vineyard to the bottle, including the winery, marketing and visitor services.
This organisation is founded on strong values: mutual support, solidarity, respect for everyone’s work, the sharing of skills, and the passing on of knowledge.
Every wine produced by our winery is the result of this collective effort: a true partnership between people and the land, which is the source of our cooperative’s strength and longevity.
Cooperation is not merely a way of organising ourselves: it is a philosophy, a daily commitment that brings a genuine collective strength to bear, ensuring that tradition, quality and authenticity come together in every bottle we produce.
