Famille Savary
In Maligny, a village well-poised between Paris and
Dijon, just north of Chablis, Olivier Savary and his wife, Francine, have been vignerons since 1984. Though many of
Olivier’s family members were vignerons, an
unfortunate series of challenging harvests discouraged his parents from joining
the family business. Chardonnay runs strongly through his veins, however, and
Olivier pursued wine school in Dijon regardless of the fact that he would have
no vines of his own. Olivier and Francine arranged to farm some vineyard land en métayage (share cropping) in the
Chablis and Petit Chablis appellations. With his father at his side to farm the
complex network of vineyards, Olivier initially sold off the majority of his
production in bulk to a négociant.
Emboldened by their years of combined experience and family history of winemaking, Francine and Olivier finally found their wings and began bottling under their own label. In 1990, Olivier's longtime friend and Chablis legend Jean-Marie Raveneau introduced Olivier to Kermit. Today, Francine and Olivier are joined by their sons, Maxime and Mathieu, whose ambition and young energy ensures a bright future for the domaine.
The Savarys have finally earned the recognition
for their hard work, and are highly regarded in the appellation. The
clay-limestone hillsides of the Kimmeridgian chain are excellent for growing
dazzling, complex Chardonnay, also known here as “Beaunois.” However ideal the
soil, Olivier brings his own brilliance to the table. The grapes from his vineyards
throughout the Chablis appellation are blended into one fabulously complex village
wine cuvée. He also bottles an
extraordinary premier cru from Fourchaume, as well as a separate cuvée
of old-vine fruit in heavy, wax-sealed bottles after élévage in demi-muids. These exquisite wines are
quintessential Chablis, with unmistakable aromas of ancient crushed shells and
a pronounced, racy mineral structure.

The Savarys have finally earned the recognition for their hard work, and are highly regarded in the appellation. The clay-limestone hillsides of the Kimmeridgian chain are excellent for growing dazzling, complex Chardonnay, also known here as “Beaunois.” However ideal the soil, Olivier brings his own brilliance to the table. The grapes from his vineyards throughout the Chablis appellation are blended into one fabulously complex village wine cuvée. He also bottles an extraordinary premier cru from Fourchaume, as well as a separate cuvée of old-vine fruit in heavy, wax-sealed bottles after élévage in demi-muids. These exquisite wines are quintessential Chablis, with unmistakable aromas of ancient crushed shells and a pronounced, racy mineral structure.
Technical Information
Wine | Blend | Vine Age | Soil Type | Vineyard Area* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Petit Chablis |
Chardonnay | 30 years average | Clay, Limestone | 4 ha |
Chablis |
Chardonnay | 25 years | Kimmeridgian Limestone | 12 ha |
Chablis "Vieilles Vignes" |
Chardonnay | 35 years | Kimmeridgian Limestone | 3 ha |
Chablis “Hommage” |
Chardonnay | Planted in 1980 | Kimmeridgian Limestone | 2 ha |
Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume |
Chardonnay | 30 years | Kimmeridgian Limestone | .75 ha |
Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons |
Chardonnay | 25 years | Kimmeridgian Limestone | N/A |
Bourgogne Epineuil Rouge |
Pinot Noir | 25 years | Kimmeridgian Limestone | .80 ha |
* "ha" = hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres |
VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION
Petit Chablis:
• Alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation occur in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks
• Wine is aged on fine lees
Chablis:
• Alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation occur in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks
• Wine is aged on fine lees
Chablis “Vieilles Vignes”:
• Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation occur in 20% neutral oak barrels and 80% in stainless steel
• Wine is aged on fine lees
Chablis “Hommage”:
• Alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation occur in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks
• Aged six months in stainless steel
• Cuvée is a tribute to Raymond Bachelier, father of Francine. The vines are on a hillside of Villy, giving another style of Chablis giving a more saline, more iodized minerality reminiscent of the components of Chablis geology and the little oyster shells Exogyra Virgula.Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume:
• Alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation occur in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks
• Wine is aged on fine lees
Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons:
• Alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation occur in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks
• Wine is aged on fine leesBourgogne Epineuil Rouge:
• Grapes are entirely de-stemmed
• Wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks
General Information
- Country
- France
- Region
- Burgundy
- Appellation(s)
- Chablis, Bourgogne Epineuil
- Producer
- Olivier Savary
- Founded
- 1984
- Annual Production
- 16,500
- Farming
- Traditional