Coming from a storekeepers’ family, this Beaune native completed studies in vine growing and oenology first in Beaune itself and then in Montpellier.

From an apprenticeship in California he brought back a distinct respect for the hygiene of a cellar and improved his English!

His first work experience in the North of the Cote d’Or boosted his understanding of the complex Burgundian soils while he produced the “Crémant de Bourgogne”, Burgundy’s sparkling white wine, similar in varietals and process to the nearby region of Champagne! But he really feels he entered the “wine priesthood” when he became manager of the Domaine Lejeune wine estate in Pommard.

In 1999, he meets the American Alex GAMBAL, who has just created a Wine-merchant house in Beaune. Gambel entrusts him with the keys of his cellar, and Fabrice becomes his winemaker. Over a ten year period, he moves Gambel’s business into the purchase of the raw material of grapes rather than finished wines, thus improving control and therefore the quality of their final product.

After finishing studies in business in Germany and the Champagne region, Sophie quickly decides to return to her Burgundian roots: her father was a Charolais Breeder. Working with Albert Bichot, a well-respected Beaune wine trader, helps her understand in depth the importance Burgundy has in the world wine market.

She then begins a “world tour” of wine-producing regions when she becomes export manager for the “Tonnellerie de Mercurey”, a Burgundian cooperage. This experience ends up being a tremendous learning experience for her – in the tasting of brut wines in barrels of course!

In 2004, she joins her husband, Fabrice, at Alex Gambal’s, where she works developing the American wine trader’s European markets.

1/3 — Our Dream

A river: The Velle

In July, 2009, we decided to reunite our previous work experiences and create the Domaine des Terres de Velle in Auxey-Duresses: a worthy challenge in Burgundy, where one generally becomes a wine maker only by family inheritance. This old 19^th century mill, sitting on its charming river, offered numerous assets, in particular its setting in the heart of our 6 hectares of vineyards – all in the Côte de Beaune.

We were seduced by this charming property, a true “Sleeping Beauty”, which, after our renovations (winter 2010-11), became a superbly functional work tool.

2/3 — Our Dream

A mosaic of wine personalities

Our vineyard is a true Burgundian-style “mosaic” of wines:
Every year, we produce 16 different wines, each from grapes harvested on our own 6 hectares.

The 35 000 bottles we produce each year are 50% Burgundian Chardonnay, 10% Aligoté (white wines) and 40% Pinot Noir (red wines).

Coming from a storekeepers’ family, this Beaune native completed studies in vine growing and oenology first in Beaune itself and then in Montpellier.

From an apprenticeship in California he brought back a distinct respect for the hygiene of a cellar and improved his English!

3/3 — Our Dream

Who we are ?

Husband & wife, parents of three children, we learned year after year that the work of the vine and wine is constant.
At Domaine des Terres de Velle, each of us comes from different backgrounds but we are united around the same Passion : working heart and soul to help each of our wines express to the maximum this unique “climat”.

Each of us has become one of the founding stones of our new project, each bringing their observations, their unique and rich experiences, and their hard work throughout the year. In the end, it is a series of a thousand everyday decisions from each of us, which will make the difference in our wines!