Armand Heitz
Burgundy, France
The philosophy at Armand Heitz is simple; work with nature. Adopting regenerative agriculture and permaculture, the winery makes every possible effort to reduce the environmental impact of their farming and viticulture. The winemaking style aims to be the least interventionist as possible, but winemaking is not just a philosophy for Armand, it’s his history.
In the mid-1800’s, the Nie-Vantey family had an empire of vineyards in Burgundy from Santenay to Clos de Vougeot. After phylloxera hit the area, the family sold off many of the vines. Fortunately, George Lochardet, Armand’s great-grandfather, kept several of the best Cote de Beaune plots in the family. Two generations later, the union of Brigitte Lochardet and Christian Heitz bore two things, Armand, and the Heitz-Lochardet vineyards.
Brigitte spent 25 years farming the property, rigorously adhering to the principles of organic viticulture. Her grapes, known for their exceptional quality, would be sold to Maison Joseph Drouhin until 2012. Around this time, Armand would finish his enology studies in Switzerland and return home to manage one parcel of land. After only a year, the estate gave Armand carte blanche for growing and winemaking a larger roster of vineyards, including coveted plots in Chassagne-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Meursault, Pommard, and Volnay.
Total symbiosis between vines and other crops is paramount. Vegetables, chickens, geese, bees—all elements that allow the estate to operate in total autonomy throughout the year. Armand eventually expanded into animal husbandry, as cattle are an important part of a diversified and balanced farm. All of this is the foundation for a vision that extends into the cellar. Here Armand uses whole-cluster fermentation and little intervention. The results are impeccable wines; reds of complexity and finesse, and elegant, balanced whites.
In the mid-1800’s, the Nie-Vantey family had an empire of vineyards in Burgundy from Santenay to Clos de Vougeot. After phylloxera hit the area, the family sold off many of the vines. Fortunately, George Lochardet, Armand’s great-grandfather, kept several of the best Cote de Beaune plots in the family. Two generations later, the union of Brigitte Lochardet and Christian Heitz bore two things, Armand, and the Heitz-Lochardet vineyards.
Brigitte spent 25 years farming the property, rigorously adhering to the principles of organic viticulture. Her grapes, known for their exceptional quality, would be sold to Maison Joseph Drouhin until 2012. Around this time, Armand would finish his enology studies in Switzerland and return home to manage one parcel of land. After only a year, the estate gave Armand carte blanche for growing and winemaking a larger roster of vineyards, including coveted plots in Chassagne-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Meursault, Pommard, and Volnay.
Total symbiosis between vines and other crops is paramount. Vegetables, chickens, geese, bees—all elements that allow the estate to operate in total autonomy throughout the year. Armand eventually expanded into animal husbandry, as cattle are an important part of a diversified and balanced farm. All of this is the foundation for a vision that extends into the cellar. Here Armand uses whole-cluster fermentation and little intervention. The results are impeccable wines; reds of complexity and finesse, and elegant, balanced whites.
