Seven other wineries were presenting their wines at this second edition of the Concours des vins d’Île-de-France. Overview. Let’s take a walk on these almost Parisian hillsides.
I – Domain BOIS BRILLANT – The story of a winemaker passionate about Seine-et-Marne.
In the hollow of a green valley, on the banks of the Grand Morin, a charming river that meanders through the hillsides, nearly 10,000 vine plant of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Floréal produce two beautiful vintages each year hailed by oenologists.
When Guérard, a village in Seine-et-Marne offers walkers the surprise of reading on one of its plates « Rue des vignes », it is even more surprising to imagine that it has a wine history! And yet…
Guérard, before being labeled « Village de Caractère» of Seine et Marne, was the most important wine village east of Paris in the nineteenth century.
It is Daniel Kiszel, passionate winemaker owner of Domaine Bois Brillant, who decided today to reclaim the local terroir and write a new page in its wine history.
He is committed to redeveloping the cultivation of vines and the production of wine in the Seine-et-Marne region.
In 2015, he created « La Maison de la Vigne et du Vin » in Guérard, and the town now wishes to become the 1st wine village in Île-de-France.
Located in the heart of the vineyard, the House of the Vine and Wine offers a historic setting of the eighteenth century, for the organization of tastings to the particular or any professional event. Its organic certified wines are appreciated in the starred restaurants of the region.
The dream of a man conquering France
The passion of Daniel Kiszel is reflected in his wines. In his greatest dreams, he wanted to see them recognized and served on the best tables in France.
And this dream is coming true! The wine of Guérard has just obtained its IGP (Protected Geographical Indication), and proof of its growing reputation, its Cuvée Blanche 2018 has just been recognized as the best of Ile-de-France and is found on the wine list of the “Fouquet’s” in Paris and on the one of the restaurant “La Part des Anges” in Nice.
Terroirs close to those of Burgundy
Today, Daniel Kiszel has 1 hectare in production, led in organic farming. The goal is to reach 3 ha. The marly soils and tufa subsoil, he explains, are excellent terroirs for the vineyard. “We have an active limestone content of 39%, comparable to those of the best Burgundy terroirs. This provides a strong minerality to our wines”. The grape varieties are comparable to those of Burgundy: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but also some Pinot Gris that it uses to counterbalance the high acidity of Chardonnays.
Daniel Kiszel has also planted two rows of flowers, which are not yet in production. And produces vegetables for those who work in the vineyard.
Daniel Kiszel’s ambition does not stop there. Its vineyard is also an open place, a place of welcome and exchanges where visitors can participate in the rebirth of this vineyard by coming to participate in the harvest and the pruning of the vine. Also, from March to November, the conduct of the vineyard is a great success and the public is always present.
In general, visitors come here to relax, break away from urban activities and reconnect with the land. The environment of a preserved countryside offers an idyllic natural scenery less than one hour from Paris.
Thus, Daniel Kiszel organizes both visits of the vineyard, workshops of viticulture and animations around the wine in a spirit of sharing and conviviality.
Soon new winegrowers in Guérard
The project of Daniel Kiszel inspires vocations in the village. Residents have expressed a desire to plant vines. “We are in the process of decommissioning 25 ha of Classified Wooded Areas (EBC) into arable land. Twelve of us want to plant them in vineyards, including farmers in the town,” the winemaker reports. With his own winery, Daniel Kiszel supports the construction of a collective winery that will allow these neo-winemakers to produce their own wines. « The idea is that they can share their production tools,» comments the winemaker. Currently, Bois Brillant employs 4 people full time. “The development of viticulture in the village creates jobs. We will need skilled labour to support our projects,” says Kiszel.
Contact
30-32, rue de la Brosse, Le Charnoy, 77580 Guérard
Tél : 0164756311
contact@vigneenvie.fr / daniel@vigneenvie.fr
Opening
All year round, every day from 9h to 12h30 and 14h to 17h.
Exceptional closures on January 1st, Easter Monday, Ascension Thursday, Pentecost Monday, May 1st, May 8th, July 14th, August 15th, November 1st, November 11th and December 25th.
For seminars booked, times to be determined, including evenings for buffets or barbecue.
Tariffs
Discovery visit from 19 €
– 19€ per adult (less than 10 people)
– 23€ per adult (from 10 people)
Visit of the vineyard and the cellar, tasting of 2 wines : 16 €.
Free for children under 10 and press.
The price includes : A guided tour, with a winemaker about 1h30 and a wine tasting for adults or a fruit
juice tasting for under 16 years.
You have to make an appointment by phone or email.
Champagne !
And, “cherry on the cake”, as we say in French, on the way back to Paris, 30 km from there, between Saâcy-sur-Marne and Citry, you can then stop at Domaine Bombart and taste a flute of Champagne.
Indeed, few people know it, at the gates of Paris, 80km to the east, is a host of small plots of vines that have brought three communes of the Seine and Marne and the greater region Île de France, in the Champagne Appellation (AOC).
It is there, between Saâcy-sur-Marne and Citry, that Hervé BOMBART – fourth generation of winemakers -, at the head of a small family farm little known of 4 ha in AOC Champagne, produced on ideally exposed hillsides that dominate the Marne grapes that give freshness, roundness and vinosity to the wide range of champagnes it offers.
A local curiosity to discover right away … which we will present in our next newsletter.
Cheers !
Written by Dr. FX