The origin of the wine multinational "Boisset, La Famille des Grands Vins" lies in the founding of a vineyard in 1961 in the Nuits-Saint-Georges area (Côte de Nuits, Burgundy) by Jean-Claude Boisset (*1943) together with his wife Claudine. The first Boisset wines came from neighbours and acquaintances. The head office was originally in Vougeot, from where the wines were exported to England. Later, the headquarters were moved to Nuits-Saint-Georges in the former convent Les Ursulines. In 1964, the first vineyard to be acquired was Les Evocelles in Gevrey-Chambertin. The parent vineyard covers 40 hectares of vines with many Grands Crus and Premiers Crus sites. The product portfolio was expanded to include sparkling wines and spirits. Eventually, branches were established in the USA and Canada.
In 1982, the two trading houses Charles Vienot and Thomas Bassot were bought, thus taking over the two biggest competitors. In 1985, the company went public and subsequently took over numerous companies and wineries. However, in 2003 it was again taken over 100% by the Boisset family. The son of the founder Jean-Charles Boisset (*1969) tasted two Burgundian wines at the age of seven. He studied economics and finance at the University of London, followed by postgraduate studies at the University of California in Los Angeles. In the early 1990s, he moved to California and bought Lyeth Estates as his first winery. Together with his sister Nathalie, he founded the Domaine de la Vougeraie in Nuits-Saint-Georges in 1999. Here, all the family's vineyards in Burgundy were united. This includes, for example, the famous Grand Cru site "Le Clos Blanc de Vougeot" in monopoly ownership. The parent company in France is run by Jean-Claude Boisset with his daughter and son-in-law.
The US office, which is managed by Jean-Charles Boisset, operates under the name "Boisset Collection" (formerly Boisset Family Estates). He has been married to Gina Gallo (member of the famous wine multinational family) since 2009. In 2011, they jointly bought the former house of Robert Mondavi (1913-2008) in Napa Valley (California). However, there is no cooperation between Boisset and Gallo in wine production. The property has been constantly increased by further winery purchases. This includes wineries or brands in the countries of England, France, India, California and Canada. The main brands are listed below (there are also a number of secondary brands):
France
- Alex Gambal - Beaune, Burgundy
- Antonin Rodet - Mercurey, Burgundy
- Bonpas - Côtes du Rhône, Rhône
- Bouachon - Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône
- Bouchard Ainé & Fils - Beaune, Burgundy
- Charles de Fére - Crémant from all French estates
- Château de Pierreux - Beaujolais
- Domaine de la Vougeraie - Côte d'Or, Burgundy
- Domaine Maire & Fils - Arbois, Jura
- Fortant - Séte, Languedoc
- French Rabbit - Limoux, Languedoc (only for the US market)
- Gabriele Meffe - Gigondas, Rhône
- Grandin - Loire (only for the US market)
- Haut Couture - France (US market only)
- IDÔL - Vodka, Burgundy
- JCB (initials of Jean-Charles Boisset) - branded wines, Burgundy and Provence
- Jean-Claude Boisset - Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy
- J. Moreau & Fils - Chablis
- Labouré Roi - Côte de Nuits, Burgundy
- Louis Bernard - Gigondas, Rhône (only for the US market)
- Louis Bouillot - Crémant de Bourgogne, Burgundy
- Mommessin - Beaujolais
- Ropiteau Frères - Meursault, Burgundy
other countries
- 1881 Napa - Napa Valley, California
- Amberhill - California (only for the European market)
- Bride Valley - England
- Buena Vista Winery - Los Carneros, California
- DeLoach Vineyards - Russian River Valley, California
- Durant & Booth - Napa Valley, California
- Elizabeth Spencer Winery - Mendocino County, Napa Valley, Sonoma County
- Founder's Ranch - Napa Valley, California
- Frenchie Winery - Napa Valley, California
- JCB - Branded Wines, Napa Valley and Sonoma County, California
- J'Noon - India
- Joliesse Vineyards - California
- La Face Cachee de la Pomme - Quebec, Canada(joint venture)
- Lockwood Vineyard - Monterey County, California
- LVE (Legend Vineyard Exclusive) - Napa Valley, California
- Lyeth Estate - Sonoma County, California
- Napa Cut - Napa Valley, California
- Oakville Grocery - Napa Valley, California
- Raymond Vineyards - Napa Valley, California
- Secret Indulgence - Napa Valley, California
- The Ink House - Napa Valley, California
- Wappo Hill - Napa Valley, California
- Wattle Creek Winery - Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
The wineries are farmed according to Biodynamic and/or Organic Viticulture guidelines with reduced yield production. Winemaking is carried out at all the wineries with the aim of producing terroir-typical wines in the Burgundy style. The wines are exported to around 80 countries. Boisset is one of the largest wine companies in the world.
Les Ursulines: @ JC Boisset
1881 Napa Valley: Boisset Collection
Jean-Charles Boisset: by Boisset Collection, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link