Domaine du Val de Vergy (Nuits-Saint-Georges – 21)

History of a region and a family of winegrowers

Clinging to the hill of Vergy, on the way to Santiago de Compostela, a historical site known for its wine-growing history as well as its religious history, in particular with the monks of the old monastery of Saint-Vivant located upstream from the village...

... The CHALEY family has been established there for 6 generations as winegrowers and harvesters.

Since the 1980's, because of the numerous plots of land backing onto this hillock steeped in history and classified as an appellation d'origine contrôlée, Georges and Yves Chaley have carried out a number of development projects, including the creation of new gentle slopes overlooking the village, which has enabled new vines to be planted, namely : Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Aligoté and Pinot Beurot were planted on the localities that have always been called "Climats" with names that are often evocative (synonymous with landmarks or in relation to the qualification of the soils, their exploitation or sometimes recalling the sayings of our ancestors or also referring to anecdotes: Example "Les Gras-Culs").

These Climats, with their intriguing names, have been delimited and named for centuries.

The stubborn work of the winegrowers who have built up this heritage of thousands of plots, each producing different wines, led to their inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 4 July 2015. The Climats de Bourgogne Côtes-de-Beaune and Côtes-de-Nuits.

This territory of Burgundy is thus recognised as a unique and exceptional cultural site, making it the pride of an entire region.

Today, we are able to welcome you to the village and show you our vineyard, our wines, our hotel "Le Manassès" with a museum of the vine and wine, as well as the Domaine des Forges (an ancestral property of nearly 3 hectares), its truffle field and its observatory and retrospective of thirty ancient fruit varieties.

From there, you can climb a path leading to the Abbey of Saint-Vivant, which is currently being renovated.

You will also have plenty of time to taste our production and why not the Cuvée de La Tour-Saint-Denis (reference to the old castle which overlooked this plot of land called "Les Cloupetits").

If you are a day-tripper, a tourist in search of authenticity, a traveller from Europe and the world, a gourmet and a fine taster, come and meet us for a stay in our region where we will be delighted to welcome you.

History and portrait of the founders

Exceptional winegrowers, no doubt with a touch of madness associated with an ambition and a strength of tenacity without equal, Georges and Yves Chaley have been able to impose their vision of an inseparable father and son couple at the service of a terroir made magnificent by the planting of this Mont de Vergy with the creation of 4 hectares of terraces with Chardonnay Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris (known as Beurot) as grape varieties, which have taken the place of Aligoté and Gamay in the new plantations.

This white and red Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits is now world famous and associated with heroic slopes dominating the Meuzin valley with the appearance of a singular, typical mountain, situated at an altitude of between 400 and 500 metres, but above all characterised by significant slopes of the order of 30 to 40% or even 60% depending on the configuration of the hill.

Here the machine has little chance and it is to men that we owe the revitalisation of the low stone walls and the abandoned and newly created terraces.

Today, these vines form a landscaped base from which to harvest rare wines full of finesse, elegance and harmony.

Georges Chaley was born in 1919. Curtil-Vergy, his native village, has never left him. With 85 years of presence and service in his vineyards, he left us at the age of 91, taking the path of hope.

Today, in memory of my father, faithful to the profession and to the acquired traditions, I have the pleasure to perpetuate the management of this vineyard and to continue to make you discover the wine of these terraces with an exceptional terroir.

Yves Chaley,
Exceptional winegrower

Their grape varieties, their production.

Location: "Les Trabuchots
Planted with Chardonnay, this terraced vineyard, a creation and work of art of the Maison Chaley, is a unique and exceptional parcel of its kind due to its 180-degree exposure, flooded with the rising and setting sun. Today it is cultivated and managed with assiduity by Odile and Daniel, our collaborators.
Thus, this exceptional climate gives us each year a rich white Burgundy Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits, suave by its character, sparkling by its dress.

Ask for a taste,
You will be surprised by this cuvée named
Grand Terroir du Mont de Vergy

Location: "Les Cloupetits
To date, this plot of land, which meant "Petit Clos" in the 12th century, is planted with Pinot Noir and produces high quality wines every year at harvest time.
The grapes from this plot are vinified by the cellar master, Mr Yves Chaley, under the appellation "Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits Rouge".
Named "Cuvée de la Tour Saint Denis".
Thus this one carries with elegance the signature of this very great terroir.

Location : " Les Rousselots "
Plot of land previously named Vuide-Bourse. Today it is cultivated by winegrowers who have lost their purses due to the fact that they have to bend down to the ground in order to raise them to avoid erosion.
Today, planted with Pinot Noir, (small yield), this vineyard gives us each year a production of high quality grapes at harvest time. After vinification, this Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits Rouge offers us aromas of violets and small red fruits and bears the name of Grand Terroir du Val de Vergy.

Location: "Le Clos des Tuileries", formerly "Le Noyer-au-Loup"
By its configuration and name, this parcel of land was once used for the extraction of a clay-limestone soil of the white marl type for the production of flat tiles to cover the roofs of the village as well as those of the former monastery of Saint-Vivant.
Today, this locality is planted with vines of the Pinot Blanc variety, which is highly appreciated for making Crémant de Bourgogne or a lime-coloured Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits Blanc with a honeysuckle aroma and an unrivalled minerality due to the structure of the soil in which this wine was born.

Location: "Les Larets"
A favourite land of the Pinot Gris " dit Beurot ", this vineyard represents the pride of our estate, having planted this grape variety which is more than a hundred years old, having taken over from Georges Chaley's know-how, helped, at one time, by a young American named Daniel. This parcel is now cultivated by Odile, giving her all the parameters of good management. The wine from this vineyard is called "Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits Blanc". After maturing on fine lees, this cuvée has an unequalled elegance due to the variety of its grape variety and a minerality associated with complex aromas to be discovered.