Lorraine, France

Domaine Lelièvre

Romans planted vineyards in Lorraine and the area reached its pinnacle of success during the 17th century. Phylloxera and WWI were the final factors in the near-disappearance of vines in Lorraine. The remaining miniscule vineyard area of the Lorraine region was slowly revived and in 1998 eight villages near Nancy celebrated their designation as Appellation Côntrolée Côtes de Toul. Gamay is emphasized in the appellation along with small amounts of pinot noir.

The Lelièvre family has been in the village of Lucey since the 17th century. Roland Lelièvre and his sons Vincent and David now run the estate. They farm 16 hectares of vines and 5 of Mirabelle plum orchards. Vincent and David have both worked internationally and bring a dynamism and professionalism in the production and marketing their remarkable wines and eau de vie.