Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
History
The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has a long history of prestige that stretches back centuries, and makes it the producer of some of the most expensive bottles of wine in the world. A stone cross on the wall of the estate symbolises its monastic roots. In 1223, it was given over to the Abbey of Saint Vivant, and then sold to the Croonembourg family in 1631. By 1760, it was so coveted that it became caught in a bidding war between the mistress of Louis XV of France and the Prince of Conti. The Prince eventually won, buying the land for an astounding price of 8000 livres and sealing its name as Romanée-Conti. During the French Revolution, the estate was taken away and auctioned off. Today, the DRC is owned by the de Villaine family and the Leroy family, who produce an exclusive amount of about 3000 bottles from the small 0.6 hectare grand cru vineyard of Montrachet.
Technology
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti is a well-established wine producer that has been refining its viticulture and vinification for centuries. The exceptional terroir and vines are tended to via traditional methods — by hand, or horse and plough. The vines are constantly pruned and only the best grapes are selected, ensuring a small but superior yield. The wine producer only uses natural yeasts and avoids pesticides that could affect the taste of the grapes. Here, organic and biodynamic production are essential to the wine-making process. The Domain gets its private supply of specially toasted and dried oak from the Troncais forests. The unique quality of the vintage determines maturation. This investment of time, attention and expertise is what ranks DRC wines among the world’s best and most valuable.
