Our History
The Domain was started at the beginning of the 20th century by Armand Rousseau who, at age 18, inherited several plots of vineyards in Gevrey Chambertin. He came from a family of small landowners, composed mainly of vine growers, coopers and local wine merchants.
Armand's marriage in 1909 provided him with additional vineyards, as well as the current Domain premises, situated near the 13th Century church in the oldest part of the village and which include a house, storage space, the cellars and the winery, Armand Rousseau first sells his wines in bulk to local wholesalers.
Then very rapidly, he buys new vineyards such as CHARMES CHAMBERTIN in 1919, CLOS DE LA ROCHE and CHAMBERTIN in 1920 and 1921 and he decides to bottle himself his most prestigious wines and sell them directly to consumers, particularly to restaurants and connoisseurs, wisely advised by Raymond Baudoin, a great friend of his and the founder of the "Revue des Vins de France".
As years go by, Armand Rousseau continues to enlarge his Domain with the purchase of more Grands Crus, classified as such in 1935 when the "Institut des Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée" was created, that is, MAZY CHAMBERTIN in 1937, MAZOYERES CHAMBERTIN (now appearing under the appellation of CHARMES CHAMBERTIN) in 1940, CHAMBERTIN in 1943 and 1956.
In 1959, after Armand Rousseau's death in a car accident on his way back from hunting, Charles Rousseau is at the head of a Domain of 6 ha which he will continue developing rapidly thanks to his great knowledge in oenology, and his experience, by acquiring new vineyards, especially in "Grands Crus" areas.
Speaking fluently English and German, he decides to turn principally towards export, and, after the USA where his father had already started to sell his wines right after prohibition at the end of the 30's, he develops the exchanges first with Great-Britain, Germany, Switzerland, soon afterwards to all European countries, then to Canada, Australia, New-Zealand, Brazil, etc. and lastly Asia in the 1970’s.
In 1982, Eric, his son joined the team after studies in the Lycée Agricole et Viticole of Mâcon Davayé and one year of specializing in oenology in Dijon University. He also has been able to extend his knowledge by working for negociants and wineshops in Burgundy.
Eric starts in the vineyards. He introduces new techniques as green harvest, leaf removal and a mechanic work of the soil without insecticides or chemical additions. He orientates the Domaine near a viticulture more biologic and get involve with the vinification. He keeps a traditional way of winemaking with the minimum of manipulations.
The wines from Domaine Armand Rousseau have improve over the years but it has always kept the same spirit as when Armand and Charles were making it. The “Rousseau hand” is a style of wine very recognizable. Our wines are typically Burgundian wines : Fine, Elegant and a honest, truly expression of the vineyards through the Pinot grape and a little piece of the winemaker.
From 1993 to 2005, Corinne, Charles’s elder daughter, after many years of professional experience in export abroad and in France, comes back to the Domain, gets the same year a diploma in oenology, and in her turn, takes in charge the commercial relationship with customers and the tastings.In 2006, he is replaced by her youngest sister, Brigitte (part-time) and Fréderic Robert for everything that concerns the relations with customers. That last one takes also care of the tastings.