Domaine HAMELIN is located in Lignorelles on the edge of the Chablis wine region. The first vines were planted in 1840. At that time the wine was sold in 132-litre barrels known as "feuillettes" and transported to the French capital by river, on a raft or a barge. Thierry and his son, Charles, run the domaine today and perpetuate the Chablis winemaking tradition. They work 36.70 hectares of vines with the help of a team of 10 people.
These vines extend over three communes: Poinchy, Beines, Lignorelles.
The domaine produces four Burgundy white appellations:
- Petit Chablis (9.95 ha), grown around the village of Lignorelles,
- Chablis (19.40 ha), extending over three communes (Poinchy, Beines, Lignorelles). These vineyards include 1 ha of old vines aged 70 years and over, from which they produce a "Chablis Vieilles Vignes" (old vines) wine.
- Chablis 1er Cru "Beauroy" (3.90 ha), located on south-facing slopes opposite the Lac de Beines.
- Chablis 1er Cru "Vau-Ligneau" (3.50 ha), located in the commune of Beines. The vineyards are planted on a steep hill in the "Vaux de Long" valley.
The key feature of the Chablis wine region is its 150 million-year-old terroir, from the Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) period, at a time when Burgundy was covered by sea. Many remnants, small oysters and ammonites, are found in the rock. This feature creates the typical Chablis minerality that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.