Val de Mer is the latest project of Chablis’ newest star, Patrick Piuze. After more than a decade making wine in Chablis for the likes of Olivier Leflaive, Verget, and Jean‐Marc Brocard, Patrick Piuze began his own label in 2008, sourcing top quality fruit by using the many connections he had made in the region over the years. The wines were immediately praised by critics and a new star was born. By the time he released his second vintage, the demand had already surpassed the small supply, but Patrick was not interested in increasing production, preferring to keep the quantities manageable so as to maintain absolute control over the quality. An idea surfaced at this time of doing another small project that could essentially be for the US market to satisfy the growing demand for his wines, but capital was needed in order to get it off the ground and it seemed to be nothing more than an unrealized dream until…

In 2010, Patrick received a phone call from François Moutard of Champagne who had just purchased a winery near the village of Tonnerre along with a few hectares of vineyards in the appellations of Bourgogne, Petit Chablis, and Chablis, and he asked Patrick for help. Out of this partnership, Val de Mer was born. Patrick is overseeing the vineyard management and making the wines from the estate vineyards as well as sourcing from his many contacts in Chablis to make the wines here that include a range of Sparkling, Bourgogne, Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru, and even Chablis Grand Cru. All the vineyards whether estate or sourced are farmed as organically as possible in a manner the French refer to as “lutte raisonée”. The production is small but as the US is the only market where the wines are sold, there is more reliable supply and continuity than with the Patrick Piuze label.