Claire Naudin

History of Domaine Naudin-Ferrand

The history of Domaine Naudin-Ferrand is a family saga dating back to 1500, when the Naudin ancestors were already cultivating vines in Burgundy. This rich heritage has been passed down from generation to generation, with each era bringing its share of renewal and passion. The estate as we know it today took shape in 1964, when Henri Naudin, son of winegrowers, married Liliane Ferrand. Together, they officially founded Domaine Naudin-Ferrand and began selling their wines under this label. From this union were born three daughters: Anne, Marie, and Claire. At a time when male succession was the norm, Henri considered in the 1990s dismantling the estate for lack of a male heir. But that was without reckoning with Claire, the youngest, who, after studies in agricultural engineering and experiences in Australia and New Zealand, returned in 1991 to take the reins.

In 1994, Claire Naudin officially became the manager of the estate, marking the beginning of a new era. Armed with a modern vision and a deep respect for her roots, she quickly made her mark. Refusing the interventionist methods learned at school, she opted for a reasoned and sustainable viticulture, inspired by her travels and her attachment to the Burgundian terroir. For over 20 years, she has led this estate with boldness and determination, defying conventions in a region where traditions are sacred. Today, surrounded by a team of eight permanent staff, Claire perpetuates centuries-old expertise while innovating to produce wines that captivate enthusiasts the world over.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Naudin-Ferrand

Located in Magny-lès-Villers, a unique village at the crossroads of the Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune and Hautes-Côtes de Nuits appellations, Domaine Naudin-Ferrand benefits from an exceptional location. Its 22 hectares of vines are divided between 80% regional appellations, primarily the Hautes-Côtes, and 20% prestigious crus, including Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix 1er Cru "La Corvée", Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru "Les Damodes" and Échezeaux Grand Cru. This diversity reflects the estate's deep roots in the Hautes-Côtes, a region whose appellation came into being in 1961 and which Claire Naudin has been able to sublimate through a careful and considered approach.

The Hautes-Côtes vineyards, perched between 280 and 550 meters in altitude, benefit from south- and west-facing slopes, capturing optimal sunshine to compensate for a cooler climate. The soils, composed of marl and white limestone, lend the wines a distinctive minerality and natural acidity, precious assets in the face of the challenges of climate change. Claire Naudin has spent years exploring these terroirs, analyzing their microclimates, subsoils, and grape varieties — Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligoté — to extract all their richness.

The viticulture practiced is resolutely sustainable: chemical weeding is being phased out, replaced by controlled ground cover that limits erosion and regulates yields. Gentle soil work encourages roots to plunge deep, reducing the impact of rainfall on grape dilution and strengthening terroir expression. Disease management relies on careful observation, with targeted treatments only when necessary, often through biological methods such as sexual confusion. Rejecting organic certification by choice of freedom, Claire adapts her practices to each plot, preserving biodiversity and soil vitality. This ecological management makes Domaine Naudin-Ferrand a model of reasoned viticulture, where every vine contributes to the unique identity of the wines.

Vinifications of Claire Naudin

At Domaine Naudin-Ferrand, vinification is a minimalist art, aimed at allowing the grape and the terroir to express themselves fully. Claire Naudin, after experimenting with modern techniques in the 1990s (micro-oxygenation, reverse osmosis), opted for an intuitive and artisanal approach, often without sulfites, close to natural wines. This philosophy guides every step, from harvest to bottling.

The harvests, 90% hand-picked, are followed by rigorous sorting to retain only healthy and ripe grapes. Since 1999, the modernized winery has eliminated aggressive pumping: transfers are carried out by gravity or compressed air, preserving the integrity of the berries. The whites are pressed as whole clusters over long cycles (2h30 to 3h30) to avoid undesirable phenolic compounds, while the reds can be vatted whole in exceptional vintages, a method that magnifies the raw material.

A pioneer in the reduced use of sulfites, Claire vinifies approximately 80% of her production without added SO2 during fermentation, a decision driven by her personal sensitivity and her quest for authenticity. Doses are also reduced during aging and at bottling, relying on rigorous sorting of the grapes (100% healthy and ripe). The estate shuns artifices such as exogenous yeasts, enzymes, or added tannins, considering that these practices mask imperfections rather than correcting them in the vineyard. The wines are aged on lees without racking after malolactic fermentation, and undergo neither fining nor heavy filtration, thus preserving their lively and natural character. Claire prefers to correct faults in the vineyard rather than in the cellar. Even in warm vintages such as 2003, she refuses acidification, adjusting balance through yields and ground cover.

The wines, aged on lees without fining or heavy filtration, retain their natural complexity. Rackings and blending, carried out without pumps, trap the aromas in the bottle, while quality corks (49 mm for aging crus) optimize cellaring. This rigor, combined with reflection on the carbon footprint, makes the wines of Domaine Naudin-Ferrand pure and sustainable expressions of Burgundy.

The cuvées of Claire Naudin

Domaine Naudin-Ferrand offers a varied range, between classic wines with a slight addition of sulfites and natural cuvées vinified without SO2, all bearing Claire Naudin's signature. Here is the complete list, organized by production domain:

Domaine Henri Naudin-Ferrand

Bourgogne Aligoté: A lively and mineral white, vinified with a light touch of sulfites for a traditional approach.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc: A balanced Chardonnay, vinified with a minimum of sulfites, reflecting the terroirs of the Hautes-Côtes.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Blanc: Fresh and structured, this white wine is vinified with a low dose of sulfites for typical elegance.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge: Warm and structured, this Pinot Noir is vinified with a slight addition of sulfites for an approachable style.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Rouge: Elegant and fresh, vinified with a touch of sulfites for a traditional expression.

Côte de Nuits-Villages: Deep and harmonious, this wine, vinified with a minimum of sulfites, blends several terroirs.

Claire Naudin

Le Clou 34 (White, Aligoté): A bold Aligoté, vinified without sulfites, outside AOC norms for total freedom.

Galanthus Nivalis (White, Pinot Blanc): Delicate and floral, this Pinot Blanc is vinified without sulfites for natural purity.

Omayga (Red, Passetoutgrain): A generous Pinot Noir-Gamay blend, vinified without sulfites for immediate drinkability.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir "La Plante": Light and fruity, this Pinot Noir is vinified without sulfites, an ode to simplicity.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc "Bellis Perennis": Expressive and natural, this Chardonnay is vinified without sulfites, evoking the daisy.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Blanc "Clematis Vitalba": Subtle and floral, this white wine is vinified without sulfites, a tribute to the clematis.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge "Orchis Mascula": Intense and juicy, this Pinot Noir vinified without sulfites shines on its own or with light dishes.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Rouge "Myosotis Arvensis": Complex and earthy, this red vinified without sulfites evokes the field forget-me-not.

Côte de Nuits-Villages "Viola Odorata": Silky and poetic, this Pinot Noir vinified without sulfites rivals the grand crus.

Aloxe-Corton: Powerful and refined, this wine is vinified without sulfites to honor this prestigious appellation.

Ladoix 1er Cru "La Corvée": Mineral and structured, this 1er Cru is vinified without sulfites for rare precision.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru "Les Damodes": Thoroughbred and complex, this wine vinified without sulfites is a natural gem.

Échezeaux Grand Cru: The flagship of the estate, this majestic Pinot Noir is vinified without sulfites for a sublime expression.

BiNaume (Collaboration with Jean-Yves Bizot)

Le Gamay de l'Allié: A fresh and fruity Gamay, vinified without sulfites from Saint-Pourçain grapes, in collaboration with Jean-Yves Bizot.

La Plante d'à Côté: A creative cuvée, vinified without sulfites using grapes from outside the estate, combining spontaneity and finesse.

L'Entremetteuse (Wines from Chile, Colchagua Valley)

Rouge Gorge Sémillon: An exotic and textured white, vinified with a minimalist approach close to the estate's methods.

Rouge Gorge Pinot Noir: Elegant and fruity, this Chilean Pinot Noir is vinified in a Burgundian style.

Rouge Gorge Syrah Grenache: Spiced and full-bodied, this bold red follows a respectful vinification.

Rouge Gorge Cabernet Franc Syrah: Powerful and harmonious, this wine reflects an artisanal approach.

This varied range illustrates Domaine Naudin-Ferrand's ability to sublimate each terroir, whether local or distant, with a marked preference for sulfite-free vinifications in the cuvées signed by Claire Naudin.

After exploring the unique world of Domaine Naudin-Ferrand, let yourself be tempted by other iconic estates of the region. Dive into the elegance of the wines from Prieuré Roch, the artisanal finesse of Fanny Sabre, or the refined tradition of Chandon de Briailles. Do not miss the intense creations of Anne Gros, the precision of Cécile Tremblay, or the historic expertise of Michel Lafarge. For lovers of exceptional Pinot Noir, Mugneret-Gibourg, Philippe Pacalet, Simon Bize and Sylvain Pataille offer unique tasting experiences that will enrich your discovery of Burgundy. Explore these estates and find your next favorite bottles!

Domaine Naudin-Ferrand, led by Claire Naudin and enriched by her partnership with her husband Jean-Yves Bizot, is an iconic figure of contemporary Burgundy. Rooted in a history dating back to 1500, it combines tradition and modernity through sustainable viticulture and often sulfite-free vinifications, offering wines that reveal the soul of their terroirs. From the accessible Hautes-Côtes to grand crus such as Échezeaux, every bottle is a testament to passion and respect for nature. With production varying between 60,000 and 130,000 bottles per year, the estate captivates novices and experts alike.