Chavanay domaine across five appellations, with terraced vineyards, manual sorting and large oak casks in the cellar.
The producer
Domaine du Monteillet is a family domaine in Chavanay, at the heart of Condrieu and the northern edge of Saint-Joseph. Stéphane Montez took over from his father Antoine after working in vineyards in England, Australia, California and South Africa. The estate's terraces lie by Mont Pilat, where cool valley ventilation helps preserve aromatic purity and limit vine disease. Harvesting is manual, and grapes are sorted in the vineyard and cellar before temperature-controlled fermentation and use of demi-muids.
Known for
Demi muids from Chavanay
Notable facts
Family winemaking at Domaine du Monteillet reaches nine generations in Chavanay.
Stéphane Montez took over from his father Antoine in 1997.
Grapes are harvested by hand in small crates and sorted in the vineyard and at the cellar table.
The story
Stéphane Returns Home
Before returning to Chavanay, Stéphane Montez studied winemaking in France and spent two years working in South Africa, Australia, California and England. He came back to the family estate and took over from his father, Antoine. The work abroad made him more conscious of the distinctive character of the family terroir, a quality he links to balance in the wines. His philosophy joins harmony with the environment, respect for the plant, sound cellar practice and collaboration with the team at the domaine.
From the atlas
Domaine du Monteillet
A Chavanay family domaine working terraced vineyards around Condrieu and northern Saint-Joseph, with manual harvest and demi-muids in the cellar.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
Northern Rhône
Home village
Chavanay
Appellation setting
Heart of Condrieu and northern edge of Saint-Joseph
Estate scale
48 hectares
Named wine
Saint Joseph Le Grand Duc, white wine, 2017
Vineyard feature
Terraces on the eastern periphery of Mont Pilat
The Producer
Family winemaking at Domaine du Monteillet reaches nine generations in Chavanay. Stéphane Montez took over the domaine from his father, Antoine, after working in vineyards in England, Australia, California and South Africa. His time abroad made him more conscious of the distinctive character of the family terroir, a quality he links to balance in the wines.
Montez's philosophy centres on harmony with the environment, respect for the plant, sound cellar practice and collaboration with the team. The estate's work combines manual harvesting and careful sorting with a cellar approach built around temperature control, extraction and large oak casks.
Place
The domaine sits in the heart of the Condrieu appellation and on the northernmost edge of Saint-Joseph. Its terraces lie on the eastern periphery of Mont Pilat, whose 1434 metre elevation shields them from harsh weather.
La combe du Montelier opens into the Rhône corridor and brings regular cool ventilation. This airflow preserves aromatic purity and limits vine disease. The ground is crystalline, with plutonic granite and metamorphic schist, gneiss and migmatite beneath the terraces.
Wines
The range covers five appellations, with Condrieu at the estate's centre and Saint-Joseph on its northern edge. Saint Joseph Le Grand Duc is a white wine from the Saint-Joseph appellation, from the 2017 vintage.
Across the range, the cellar uses temperature-controlled fermentations, careful extraction and demi-muids. Demi-muids are large oak casks whose format changes the proportion of oak to wine compared with a small barrel. The cellar style focuses on power through these controlled fermentations, extraction choices and larger casks.
Final Word
Domaine du Monteillet's terraces still use traditional dry-stone walls called chaillées. Romans built them 2,000 years ago, and the walls remain in use today.