Château de Chasselas

Château de Chasselas is a historic wine estate and château in the commune of Chasselas, in the Saône-et-Loire department of Burgundy, France. The property is built on a slope and is organised around a large cour d'honneur flanked by three pepper-pot towers covered in glazed tiles. Its buildings include a 16th-century corps de logis to the east and a late 18th-century main residence to the south, arranged as a central block between two wings. The château has been listed as a monument historique since 5 July 1979. The estate is a working vineyard of about 12 hectares and historically operated a tasting cellar open throughout the year. Ownership has passed through many hands over the centuries, from the de Chasselas family in the early 13th century through the du Roux, Bellecombe, Paisseaud, Fayard, La Fond de La Rolle and Cellard d'Estours families, and later the Grandjean-Fouchy and Reme families. In 1999 the estate passed to Jean-Marc Veyron la Croix and Jacky Martinon. The château belongs to the Société civile agricole de Chasselas. In recent years the domaine has been closed to the public for works, and the vines have been taken over by Maison Joseph Drouhin, the well-known Burgundy négociant and producer based in Beaune. According to the estate's official website, the wines are now produced by Maison Joseph Drouhin, and visitors are directed to Drouhin for further information. The château therefore continues as a wine brand and vineyard site under Drouhin's stewardship, while the historic buildings remain a protected heritage property in the Mâconnais.

The site of Château de Chasselas has been associated with winegrowing and seigneurial ownership since at least the early 13th century, when the land was held by the de Chasselas family. In the 15th century it passed to the du Roux family, mentioned from 1485 to 1591; the last of that line, Judith du Roux, dame de Chasselas and de Pouilly, married first Lyonnet de Challes, a Huguenot executed at Trévoux, and then Philibert de Bellecombe, seigneur de Vinzelles. Their son Jacques de Bellecombe died of the plague in 1629, as did his wife, and in 1654 their son Claude de Bellecombe was assassinated. In 1706 the Bellecombe family sold the château, then in poor condition, to Thomas Paisseaud, receveur du Mâconnais. Ruined, Paisseaud sold the property in 1727 to Laurent Fayard, who in turn, burdened by debt, ceded it in 1756 to Laurent de La Fond de La Rolle. In 1774 the domaine again had to be surrendered to a creditor, Étienne Cellard d'Estours, whose arms featured three towers. In 1789 his son could not prevent the pillaging and demolition of one tower but managed to preserve the rest. The property later passed to the Grandjean-Fouchy family in 1797. In 1971, M. Reme and his wife, née de Cuverville, bought the abandoned château and devoted their energy to restoring it. The estate remained in the Reme family until 1999, when it was acquired by Jean-Marc Veyron la Croix and Jacky Martinon. The château was inscribed as a monument historique on 5 July 1979. The estate belongs to the Société civile agricole de Chasselas. More recently, the domaine has been closed to the public for works, and the vines have been taken over by Maison Joseph Drouhin, the Burgundy négociant and producer. The official website states that the wines are now produced by Maison Joseph Drouhin and directs visitors to Drouhin for further information. The historic château, with its 12-hectare vineyard and tasting cellar, thus continues as a wine estate under Drouhin's management while remaining a protected heritage site in the Mâconnais.

• 1999

  Jean-Marc Veyron la Croix and Jacky Martinon acquire the estate.

• 1979

  The château is inscribed as a monument historique (5 July 1979).

• 1971

  M. Reme and his wife buy the abandoned château and restore it.

• 1797

  The property passes to the Grandjean-Fouchy family.

• 1789

  A tower is pillaged and demolished, but the rest of the château is preserved.

• 1774

  The domaine is surrendered to creditor Étienne Cellard d'Estours.

• 1756

  Laurent Fayard, in debt, cedes the château to Laurent de La Fond de La Rolle.

• 1727

  Paisseaud, ruined, sells the property to Laurent Fayard.

• 1706

  The Bellecombe family sells the château, then in poor condition, to Thomas Paisseaud.

• 1485

  The du Roux family is mentioned as holders of Chasselas (1485–1591).

• Land held by the de Chasselas family (early 13th century).

• The domaine is closed for works and the vines are taken over by Maison Joseph Drouhin.

Historic Burgundian estate wine, now under the stewardship of Maison Joseph Drouhin.

• Château de Chasselas wines

1. 1Château de Chasselas : Grands Vins, Salle Mariage, Maison d'hôteschateauchasselas.fr
2. 2Château de Chasselaswikidata.org
3. 3Château de Chasselasfr.wikipedia.org