Château des Rontets

The history of the Chateau des Rontets

The Château des Rontets was founded in the eighteenth century by Claude Nonain, who died a priest of Fuissé. It was requisitioned at the end of the French Revolution, and then became the property of one of the priest's great-nieces, whose married name was Terrier. The Château des Rontets was then sold to a wine merchant from Lyon, Mr. Liaut, before being bought by a lawyer from Lyon, François Varambon.

The Château des Rontets has remained in the family ever since. Since 1995, it is managed by Claire, great-granddaughter of François Varambon, married to Fabio Montrasi. The legacy is already assured by Thomas, the couple's son, who joined the family operation in November 2021 and his sister Pauline, involved in the adventure since January 2021.

The two future owners of Château des Rontets benefit from the transmission of their parents' know-how, but have also previously studied in France and abroad, in order to expand their knowledge.

The Château des Rontets vineyard

The vineyard of Château des Rontets is established on 6.6 hectares of which 6.2 hectares are dedicated to white wine. The grape variety is composed of Chardonnay for the white wine and Gamay Noir à jus blanc for the red wine.

The average age of the vines is 40 years and the annual production is around 30,000 bottles.

The vineyard of Château des Rontets is divided into 3 terroirs.

Le Clos des Rontets

The Clos extends over 5.6 on the place called les Rontets, in the commune of Fuissé. It occupies the top of the hill that closes the valley of Fuissé to the south, at 350 meters above sea level.

Its grapes are used to make the Pouilly Fuissé Clos Varambon and Les Birbettes vintages.

Pierrefolle

Not far away, Pierrefolle is a half-hectare parcel, located in the commune of Fuissé. Its soil is very different from that of Le Clos, despite its comparable altitude. Its grapes are used for the Pouilly Fuissé cuvée.

Côte de Besset

Côte de Besset is also a half-hectare plot, but located in the commune of Saint Amour, a Beaujolais cru.

The vineyard of Château des Rontets is led in organic agriculture with Ecocert certification, since 2005. No chemical weedkiller is used and its soils are worked and ploughed. Only a few essential phytosanitary treatments are kept for the prevention of mildew and oidium. They are reduced to solutions based on sulfur, copper, citrus extracts, as well as decoctions of nettles and oak bark.

The wines of Château des Rontets

The Château des Rontets offers one red wine, Côtes de Besset, and 4 white wines :
Southern Burgundy
Clos Varambon
Pierrefolle
Les Birbettes