Maison Joseph Drouhin
A historic Burgundy wine house combining estate-grown wines with négociant production across Burgundy and Oregon.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Maison Joseph Drouhin is a historic French wine producer headquartered in Beaune, Burgundy. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Drouhin, the house developed as both a vineyard owner and a négociant, producing wines from grapes grown in vineyards controlled by the family as well as from grapes purchased from growers in different Burgundy appellations. This dual structure gives the brand a broad regional portfolio while retaining a strong association with premier and grand cru Burgundy wines. The family’s vineyard holdings extend across several of Burgundy’s principal areas, including Chablis, the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune and the Côte Chalonnaise. Among its best-known estate wines is Beaune Clos des Mouches, produced from the Clos des Mouches Premier Cru vineyard in Beaune. Drouhin acquired parcels in the vineyard during the nineteenth century, and the estate produces both red and white versions. The white bottling is generally regarded as the more expensive of the two. Clos des Mouches has also figured prominently in international comparative tastings, including the 1973 Judgment of Paris, the 1973 New York Wine Tasting and the 1980 Great Chardonnay Showdown. Maison Joseph Drouhin’s identity is strongly connected with family continuity and long-term vineyard stewardship. By the 2009 vintage, grapes from all vineyards owned by the estate had received organic certification. The house is managed by descendants of Joseph Drouhin, and the Drouhin family is a member of Primum Familiae Vini, an association of prominent family-owned wine businesses. The company’s international development includes Domaine Drouhin Oregon, an American winery established in Oregon’s Dundee Hills within the Willamette Valley. Maison Joseph Drouhin built the gravity-fed Oregon winery in 1988, extending the family’s expertise into a region particularly suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Oregon project was influenced by the strong performance of Oregon Pinot Noir in international tastings during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Robert Drouhin had been visiting Oregon since the 1960s and later acquired the property after being alerted to the opportunity by David Adelsheim of Adelsheim Vineyard. Véronique Drouhin serves as winemaker for the Oregon operation. Today, Maison Joseph Drouhin represents a premium Burgundy house with a portfolio spanning regional wines, village wines, premier crus, grand crus and estate wines from Oregon. Its positioning rests on family ownership, Burgundy terroir, a substantial vineyard base, négociant expertise, organic vineyard certification and international recognition. The brand has also appeared in popular culture: in the opening sequence of the 2002 film Red Dragon, a bottle bearing the Maison Drouhin label appears at Hannibal Lecter’s dinner table.
History
Maison Joseph Drouhin was founded in Burgundy in 1880 by Joseph Drouhin. From its beginning, the business developed within the region’s traditional merchant-wine framework, combining ownership of vineyards with négociant activity. This model allowed the house to produce wines from its own parcels while also sourcing grapes grown by other Burgundy vineyard owners. As the estate expanded, its holdings came to cover important parts of Chablis, the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune and the Côte Chalonnaise. The house’s best-known estate associations include the Clos des Mouches Premier Cru vineyard in Beaune. Drouhin purchased parcels there during the nineteenth century and produces both red and white wines from the site. Clos des Mouches became particularly visible in international wine comparisons. The 1973 Drouhin vintage placed fifth in the Judgment of Paris tasting, which compared French and California wines. A 1969 Drouhin wine also placed fifth in the 1973 New York Wine Tasting after four California Chardonnays, and the wine was later included in the 1980 Great Chardonnay Showdown. These results helped demonstrate the ability of Burgundy wines to compete in international tastings at a time when California and other emerging regions were receiving growing attention. The Drouhin family retained control of the enterprise across successive generations. The family’s later descendants continued to operate Maison Joseph Drouhin and its American affiliate, Domaine Drouhin Oregon. Family ownership remains central to the brand’s public identity, and the Drouhin family belongs to Primum Familiae Vini, an organization of significant family-owned wine businesses. Maison Joseph Drouhin’s international expansion reached Oregon after Robert Drouhin developed a sustained interest in the region. He had visited Oregon since the 1960s, and the state’s potential for Pinot Noir became especially clear after the 1979–1980 Paris Wine Olympics, where David Lett’s The Eyrie Vineyards placed second behind a 1959 Drouhin wine. After being informed of an Oregon opportunity by David Adelsheim of Adelsheim Vineyard, Robert Drouhin purchased property in the Willamette Valley. Maison Joseph Drouhin constructed a gravity-fed winery in the Dundee Hills in 1988. Domaine Drouhin Oregon subsequently became known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with Véronique Drouhin serving as winemaker. The Burgundy estate also strengthened its environmental credentials. All grapes grown in vineyards owned by Maison Joseph Drouhin were organically certified from the 2009 vintage. This certification applies to the estate’s own vineyard production and should be distinguished from grapes sourced through négociant relationships. In the contemporary market, Maison Joseph Drouhin spans a wide range of Burgundy categories, from regional and village wines to premier crus and grand crus, alongside the Oregon portfolio. Its leading brand associations are refined Burgundy expression, family stewardship, broad access to regional appellations, and selected high-end vineyard bottlings. The house has also received incidental exposure through cinema: a bottle apparently carrying its label is shown in the opening sequence of the 2002 film Red Dragon.
- 2009
Estate vineyards achieve organic certification
[3]Grapes from all vineyards owned by the estate were organically certified from the 2009 vintage.
- 2002
Brand appears in Red Dragon
[3]A bottle apparently bearing the Maison Drouhin label appears in the opening scene of Red Dragon.
- 1988
Domaine Drouhin Oregon winery opens
[3]Maison Joseph Drouhin built a gravity-fed winery in Oregon’s Dundee Hills in the Willamette Valley.
- 1980
Clos des Mouches enters the Great Chardonnay Showdown
[3]Beaune Clos des Mouches was included in the 1980 Great Chardonnay Showdown.
- 1973
Drouhin wines gain recognition in international tastings
[3]Drouhin wines placed in the 1973 Judgment of Paris and New York Wine Tasting comparisons.
- 1890
Drouhin acquires parcels in Clos des Mouches
[1]The family acquired vineyard parcels in Beaune’s Clos des Mouches Premier Cru during the nineteenth century.
- 1880
Joseph Drouhin establishes the Burgundy wine house
[1]Joseph Drouhin founded the business in Burgundy, establishing the family enterprise that later became Maison Joseph Drouhin.
Products and positioning
Premium and luxury Burgundy wine house emphasizing terroir, estate vineyards, family continuity, organic vineyard stewardship and international fine-wine recognition.
Burgundy Premier Cru wine
Beaune Clos des Mouches
Beaune Clos des Mouches is made from grapes grown in the Clos des Mouches Premier Cru vineyard in Beaune on the Côte de Beaune. Maison Joseph Drouhin produces both red and white interpretations of the site. The bottling is one of the house’s signature vineyard wines and has a history of appearing in international comparative tastings. The white version generally commands a higher price than the red.
Oregon Pinot Noir · 1988
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir is produced at the family’s Oregon winery in the Dundee Hills AVA of the Willamette Valley. The Oregon operation was established by Maison Joseph Drouhin to apply the family’s experience to a region recognized for cool-climate Pinot Noir. The winery uses a gravity-fed design, and the wine is a central expression of the Drouhin family’s American expansion.
Oregon Chardonnay · 1988
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Chardonnay
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Chardonnay is produced at the Dundee Hills winery alongside the estate’s Pinot Noir. It represents the family’s Oregon portfolio and extends the house’s white-wine expertise beyond Burgundy. The wine is made within an Oregon estate operation associated with family ownership and winemaker Véronique Drouhin.
Burgundy wine
Burgundy Premier Cru wines
Maison Joseph Drouhin’s premier cru range draws on vineyards in major Burgundy areas, including the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. The portfolio includes estate-grown bottlings and wines produced through the house’s négociant activity. Premier cru wines occupy an important position in the brand’s premium and fine-wine offering.
Burgundy wine
Burgundy Grand Cru wines
The house produces grand cru Burgundy wines as part of its high-end portfolio. These wines represent the upper tier of Maison Joseph Drouhin’s regional range and are associated with specific, highly classified vineyard sites. Exact cuvée details and release dates are not specified in the supplied reference material.
Brand decisions
2009
Organic certification for owned vineyardsStrategyBackground
The estate pursued formal recognition of its vineyard-growing practices.
Action taken
All grapes grown within Maison Joseph Drouhin’s owned vineyards received organic certification beginning with the 2009 vintage.
Aftermath
Organic vineyard stewardship became a documented feature of the estate’s production identity.
1988
Expansion into OregonStrategyBackground
International tasting results and the perceived suitability of Oregon for Pinot Noir encouraged the Drouhin family to establish a presence in the Willamette Valley.
Action taken
Maison Joseph Drouhin purchased an Oregon property and built a gravity-fed winery in the Dundee Hills.
Aftermath
The resulting Domaine Drouhin Oregon became a family-operated producer of Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with Véronique Drouhin as winemaker.
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