Michelle and Jean-Michel Masson (born BLONDELET) created Domaine Masson-Blondelet when they got married, in 1975, being the sixth generation of vine-growers and producers of pouilly fume in the family.
The birth register of La Charité-sur-Loire records that “on December 29, 1826, Antoine Blondelet, winegrower, presented his child to whom he gave the first name Louis”. Antoine was the great-grandfather of Paul, who was Michelle’s grandfather.
Jean-Michel MASSON became a winegrower after obtaining a Master’s degree in Public Law. His training took place in the field with Michelle’s father. On the oenological front, training has continued for over 40 years, thanks to frequent exchanges with local oenologists in Pouilly and Sancerre, notably those at SICAVAC, and with fellow winegrowers (from Burgundy, where he attended university in Dijon, and from all over France, when he was one of the 31 representatives of French producers on the INAO National Committee).
The experience also included encounters with visitors to the Domaine, as on this evening in 1981, when a highly enriching discussion with Dr. W. Eggenberger, an oenological engineer from Zurich, confirmed Jean-Michel Masson in his choice of a modern vinification approach that favors work on the musts.
The estate is 21 hectares in size, which are planted on the best sites in the heart of the Appellation Pouilly-Fume (AOC) and in Sancerre (a 4-acre plot inherited from Michelle’s father). The children, Mélanie and Peiire both came back to the vineyard.
Pierre, after graduating from the Lycée Viticole in Mâcon-Davayé with first-class honors, and did internships at several vineyards in France and in New Zealand, is responsible for the wines of Domaine MASSON-BLONDELET. From 1998 to 2008, he was also involved in the vinification of Corbières wines at CHÂTEAU DE TERSAC, a vineyard that the family took over from 1998 to 2024.
Mélanie, who graduated in Science Po Strasbourg and at the École Supérieure de Commerce de Lyon, is involved in the vinification of Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre, and in marketing the wines of Domaine MASSON-BLONDELET. They are now the 7th generation…
The whole team is 10 people in total, working as well in the vines as in the cellar. On the picture just above from the left to the right, there are Jérôme, Jean-Michel Masson, Michelle Masson, Aymeric, Mélanie Masson, Pierre-François Masson, Stevens and Thierry: that represents our team of permanent employees; the only one missing is Amaury, who works with us only in the mornings.
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