Bouchard Pere & Fils

Few Burgundy producers can claim the history and influence of Bouchard Pere & Fils, which has been standing tall since 1731, holding over 100 hectares of land in the region. As the largest owner in the Cote d’Or and a producer of over 100 different wines, Bouchard’s stock continues to skyrocket with consistent investments from the wealthy Henriot family, who took over at the end of the 20th century.

Bouchard Pere & Fils: From Flanders to Beaune

In 1731, Michel Bouchard, a cloth merchant from eastern France, founded the state after falling in love with Burgundy’s scenic landscapes and sophisticated wines. On his journeys to Flanders, Belgium, Bouchard often idealized owning a winery in Beaune, understanding the terroir’s potential. He bought his first parcel of land in the region, partnering with and later transferring the business to his son, Joseph. Once the young upstart took over, Bouchard wines grew in prominence across France, as did its land. After buying land in the Volnay Premier Cru and the coveted Vigne de l’Enfant Jésus, the estate's holdings grew exponentially.

One of the most impactful purchases was Chateau de Beaune, a 15th-century royal fortress built by King Louis XI. The Bouchard family converted the underground into aging cellars, discovering that the space provided the perfect conditions for the maturation of wine. To this day, over 2000 bottles from the 19th century remain in the cellar, ready to drink and highly coveted by the Bouchards.

After strong years in the 18th and 19th centuries, Bouchard wines began to fall in stock, often getting sneered at by Burgundy wine critics and enthusiasts. Ultimately, after 200 years of family ownership, Joseph Henriot of the Henriot family took over in 1995, upgrading the vinous techniques, installing a state-of-the-art winery, and improving each vineyard. Joseph brought a plethora of knowledge from his previous experience revitalizing the champagne house, Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Since the takeover, Bouchard has experienced an incredible renaissance, impressing critics with spectacular wines and reestablishing its name as a Burgundian powerhouse.

Bouchard Wines and Vineyards

Bouchard Pere & Fils owns 130 hectares across more than 450 parcels in Burgundy. The producer is definitively the largest landowner in the Cote d’Or, with 98.7 hectares of land divided into 111 plots in the region. Of their overall land, 12 hectares are Grand Cru vineyards and 74 hectares are Premier Cru vineyards, while the remaining land is village-level vineyards.  

Ultimately, Bouchard’s ownership in coveted appellations like Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne, and Chambertin allows the estate to produce world-class pinot noir and chardonnay.

Bouchard ‘Grand Cru’ Winemaking

Since their takeover in 1995, the Henriot family has implemented incredible upgrades to Bouchard Pere & Fils. In 2005, the family made a custom-built winery in Savigny les Beaune, bringing sustainable practices with them. The winemaking team has installed birdhouses for the many different species that roam the vineyards, planted trees across the land, and greatly reduced the use of fossil fuels for transportation. With a recent organic certification in 2025, Bouchard’s commitment to sustainability has greatly paid off.

In the advanced winery, vatting for the wines can last 15-20 days before the wine is aged in French oak barrels for 12-18 months. The cellar’s characteristics provide the optimal temperature and ventilation for pinot not and chardonnay to age beautifully. Numerous critics have praised the state-of-the-art facility, with The Wine Advocate stating the “underground acreage devoted to barriques similarly defies imagination.”

Add Bouchard Pere et Fils to Your Collection

As one of Burgundy’s most prestigious producers, Bouchard wines stand out as a jewel in any cellar. With multiple pinot noir and chardonnay labels from top Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, there are multiple options for Burgundy lovers to choose from. These bottles are ready-to-drink or able to age in a cellar for years to come.