In the heart of the Burgundy region…

Atop the sloping vineyard in the village of Santenay stands the Chateau de Santenay, majestic stately residence of the IXth, XIIth and XVIth centuries.

It once belonged to Philip-the-Bold (Philippe-le-Hardi), son of French King John-the-Good (Jean-le-Bon) and first Duke of Burgundy (Premier Valois, Duc de la Grande Bourgogne) (1342-1404) and is why it is widely known as the Chateau Philippe-le-Hardi.

Under his reign, Burgundy acquired power and glory thanks to his wisdom and highly developed sense of diplomacy. His marriage to Marguerite of Flanders allowed Burgundy to expand to the north to what is present-day Belgium and Holland, bringing wealth through the latter's great commercial maritime activity.

Additionally, his actions proved decisive for Burgundian viticulture through the 1395 edict that imposed Pinot Noir as the only grape variety recognized for its qualities to produce the red wines of Burgundy. This was the birth of single-variety wines.

This choice undoubtedly was reinforced by the monks of the Abbey of Cîteaux who had been using this single-variety method since the XIth century to develop Burgundian viticulture and to whom we owe the mythical Clos de Vougeot, near the Citeaux abbey, but who on a larger scale, molded and revealed the territory (terroir) that makes up the reputation of Burgundy.