Land with 24 centuries of history behind it, worked and preserved by three generations of winemakers with family values at their core and a commitment to an illustrious terrain that produces prestigious wines. This, in a nutshell, is the Maison Guigal. Right from the beginning the motto, "No Pains No Gains" underpins the promise made to Etienne Guigal. A commitment to work together to follow in his footsteps, to communicate the family's passion and create so many emotions. Today, Marcel and Philippe, along with their wives, are the guardians of this exceptional domain which combines history, devotion and a sense of togetherness. A breath of inspiration for generations to come.
The Guigal domain was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in Ampuis; a small, ancient village at the heart of the Côte-Rôtie appellation. It is overlooked by unique vineyards where vines and wine have been celebrated for over 2,400 years. Following his arrival in 1924 at the age of 14, the founder went on to make wine for 67 vintages in the Côte-Rôtie and, at the beginning of his career, took part in the development of the Vidal-Fleury establishment.
In 1961, a still very young Marcel Guigal took over management of the domain when his father was struck by temporary but total blindness. He was joined in 1973 by his wife, Bernadette and they worked hand-in-hand to expand the family business. In 1975, their son Philippe was born and today he is the domain's oenologist. Together with his wife, Eve, he represents the third generation and continues the family's lifetime endeavour to be at the service of the greatest wines of the Rhône valley.
Since 1946, hard work and perseverance have paid their dividends as demonstrated by certain key developments such as the purchase of the Vidal-Fleury establishment at the beginning of the '80s, which still preserves commercial autonomy and its own identity.