Pierre Jean Villa, among the best winemakers in Northern Rhone

Pierre Jean Villa settled as an independent winemaker in Chavanay in 2008. He produces some of the best wines in northern Rhone. His vineyard experience dates back to 1993 at Clos de Tart, a very great vintage of Burgundy. In 1996, he joined Yves Cuilleron, Pierre Gaillard and Francois Villard in Seyssuel: together, they replanted vines on the slopes of Seyssuel to produce their famous "Vins de Vienne".

He then decided to move to his childhood village of Chavanay, where he always wanted to settle. He owns the most northern part of Saint Joseph, and the most southern of Condrieu. Georges and Christine Vernay guided him on these plots and showed him the first parcel where to plant his vines. On a steep path with terraces, everything has to be done by hand because no machine can climb these steep terraces. Clearing, mining, planting ... without any mechanization: the installation was a real work of titan. But as Pierre Jean Villa said, it was worth the effort! This terroir had all the necessary ingredients to produce beautiful wine. And all the professionals today agree to say that he made the right decision.

It was not easy at the beginning. Jean Michel Gerin offered to lend him his cellar the first years: "We gave him a hand, advice, even if he didn't necessarily need it. And later it was mainly equipment [...] you can't be totally equiped when you start. They call it "financial" help, I call it friendship. Pierre Jean Villa vignes

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Since 2012 Pierre Jean Villa is settled in his own esate. He vinifies sumptuous wines, aged from 12 to 24 months depending on the cuvees. He produces wines according to his philosophy : respect for the vine, minimal intervention, only native yeasts and work according to the lunar calendar. Saint Joseph, Condrieu, Cote Rotie and PGI: each wine by Pierre Jean Villa is elaborated with passion.