About Joseph Mellot

Joseph Mellot winery boasts an extraordinary 500-year history that began in 1513 when Pierre-Etienne Mellot established the family’s first domaine in Sancerre. The family’s prominence grew when César Mellot became wine advisor to King Louis XIV in the late 17th century. In 1882, they pioneered wine tourism by establishing the first restaurant in Sancerre, hosting renowned guests including Claude Monet. The modern estate was established in 1969 when brothers Joseph and Edmond Mellot divided the family vineyards. Since 2005, the estate has been managed by Catherine Corbeau-Mellot, who took over after her husband Alexandre’s death and has continued to expand the family’s legacy.

Joseph Mellot is committed to eco-responsible viticulture, employing rigorous tillage, limited yields, plot-by-plot monitoring, and comprehensive traceability. The estate became the first winery in the region to achieve ISO 14001 certification in 2009. All their vines are certified High Environmental Value (HVE), with their Domaine des Emois estate labeled as organic farming. Their vinification process emphasizes expressing each individual terroir, with cellar master Yoann Malandin continuously refining techniques. For prestigious cuvées, they employ precise oak aging using regional barrels, with wines like their Sancerre Blanc La Grande Chatelaine aged in new oak, second-use barrels, and neutral oak before final blending.

Joseph Mellot is unique as the only producer making wines from all eight Centre-Loire AOCs, including Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Menetou-Salon. The estate produces predominantly Sauvignon Blanc wines from 107 hectares across the central Loire Valley. Their Sancerre whites showcase classic Sauvignon Blanc character with fresh, aromatic profiles featuring citrus and exotic fruit aromas combined with distinctive mineral notes. They also produce elegant Pinot Noir-based reds with delicate berry flavors and fresh rosés with floral and red berry notes. Their portfolio ranges from single-vineyard expressions grown on flint soils to premium cuvées from their oldest vines, all designed to express unique terroir characteristics.