Story
Château de Béru
Chablis · Burgundy · France
Chateau de Beru, a historic estate with 400 years of heritage in Chablis, was revitalised in the 1980s when Count Eric de Beru rekindled the estate's winemaking by replanting the vineyards, including the distinctive walled vineyard, Clos Beru. After a period of decline due to the Count's illness, where the vineyards were leased out, his daughter Athenais took charge in 2004. Inspired by biodynamic practices she encountered in Argentina, Athenais persuaded her family to adopt these methods, transitioning the estate to biodynamic viticulture in 2006. The estate spans 15 hectares on prime Chablis terroir, featuring calcareous-clay soils rich in fossilised oysters from the Kimmeridgien era, situated at 300 metres elevation. Athenais employs natural farming methods, including the use of horses instead of tractors, to preserve this unique environment.
“The result is wines that are vibrant and pure, combining intense flavours with remarkable finesse.”
As a member of ‘Femmes et Vins de Bourgogne,’ Athenais also promotes the role of women in Burgundy's wine industry. She is also experimenting with skin-fermented Amphorae to produce small batches of orange wines, further showcasing her innovative approach.
