Domaine de la Cadette Wine Estate
Just below the village on the limestone slopes of the Vézelay appellation, Domaine de la Cadette produces some of the most compelling Chardonnay in Burgundy — at a fraction of the price of the famous Côte d'Or names. The domaine welcomes visitors for tastings in a no-fuss cellar setting that feels like being let in on a local secret.
The Vézelay AOC & Why It Matters
The Vézelay appellation, granted full AOC status in 2017, covers Chardonnay grown on Kimmeridgian limestone — the same ancient seabed geology that gives Chablis its mineral backbone. The wines are crisp, saline and food-friendly, and they remain largely unknown outside France, which keeps prices honest.
Domaine de la Cadette, run by the Montanet family, farms organically and makes both white and a small amount of red (Pinot Noir) that rarely appears on export markets. The whites, particularly the cuvée Bourgogne Vézelay, are the stars: bright, tense and age-worthy.
Visiting the Domaine
The cellar is in Saint-Père-sous-Vézelay, a short drive or pleasant walk downhill from the village. Call or email ahead to arrange a tasting — the family is welcoming but visits work better with a little notice, especially in harvest season (September–October).
Tastings are informal and educational without being intimidating. You'll likely taste four to six wines, learn about the limestone terroir and leave with a clear sense of why this appellation deserves far more attention than it currently gets.
Buying & Taking Wine Home
Bottles are available to purchase directly at the domaine at cellar-door prices that are significantly lower than you'd pay in a Paris wine shop. The wines travel well and are robust enough to survive a checked suitcase if wrapped carefully.
If you can't make it to the domaine itself, several bottles are usually available at the village épicerie and at Le Bougainville restaurant, making it easy to try a glass before committing to a case.
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