Domaine Laroche winery
Domaine Laroche is one of the most prominent wine producers in Chablis, in northern Burgundy. As well as its fine, mineral-laden wines made from the Chardonnay grape variety, the company has interests in regions as far-reaching as the Languedoc, Chile and South Africa. The domaine was founded in Chablis in 1850 by vineyard worker Jean-Victor Laroche. After five generations in the family, Domaine Laroche has come to be one of the largest producers in Chablis. It owns 6 hectares of grand cru vineyards with plots in Les Blanchots, Les Bougros and Les Clos, as well as a further 30ha (73 acres) of premier cru vineyards. Despite these holdings, 70 percent of Laroche's production is actually devoted to village-level Chablis, including its flagship wine Saint Martin. In 2014, Domaine Laroche launched a single-vineyard Chablis at the village level from Vieille Voye. This is an uncommon practice as the vast majority of village Burgundy is blended from multiple sites. An estate in the Languedoc named Mas La Chevali r offers regional varieties not found in Burgundy, including Syrah, Grenache, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. In the early 2000s, Domaine Laroche became the first Burgundy estate to adopt screw caps for its entire range, including all of the grand and premier cru wines. In 2009, the company merged with Languedoc to negotiate Jeanjean to become Advini. Along with Domaine Laroche and its new world ventures, Advini owns wineries all over the south of France, as well as in Bordeaux and the southern Rhone Valley.