Follin-Arbelet

Franck Follin-Arbelet is the first in his family history to make viticulture his profession. Having initially started by renting a parcel in Aloxe-Corton in 1990, he soon began buying his own sites and in 1993 purchased a selection of premier and grand cru sites such as Corton-Bressandes, Corton-Charlemagne and Romanee Saint Vivant. The Follin-Arbelet building was constructed in 1764 and is located in the heart of Aloxe-Corton. The domaine has the deepest cellars in the village, making them particularly cold and humid and therefore the perfect location for the production and ageing of wines.

Follin-Arbelet use organic farming techniques and harvest the grapes manually. This delicate approach is reciprocated in the maceration process, as each plot is vinified on its own in open oak vats and fermentation takes place naturally with indigenous yeasts. Depending on the vintage and the appellation from which the grapes are harvested, the ageing period can be anywhere from 16 to 20 months during which time several sessions of racking may occur. Although the white wines are fined before bottling, often filtration is not necessary which helps to preserve the richness and complexity of the domaine’s wines.