France - Albert Ponnelle

The Ponnelle family’s involvement with Burgundy’s wine trade began in 1870. This is when our ancestor, Pierre-Lazare Ponnelle, founded his winery and domaine of vineyards. He developed the business brilliantly at the same time conducting a number of research projects into wine-making processes, in particular the understanding of fermentation. This led to collaborating with Louis Pasteur, who was living in Dôle, not far from Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy. His sons followed him. A grandson, Albert, decided to create his own business and he then was vinifying, cellaring and selling some of the best quality wines in the Cote de Beaune and the Cote de Nuits. His son Louis carried on. The passion for wine has run in the family through the generations and today the business is run by Pierre, grandson of Albert and son of Louis. We have our own vines in the Cote de Beaune at ‘Village’ and ‘Premier Cru’ level. We also vinify, raise and bottle other appellations, including Grands Crus, brought in as young wine, pressed juice or as grapes.