From our importer: Juliénas is distinct from the other crus of Beaujolais due to the unique soil composition. Les Pierres Bleus, or blue stones, cover nearly half of the surface area on the slopes and are mixed with diorites, a magmatic rock, micro-diorites and schist formations. While the greater part of Beaujolais is dominated by granite, the soils here are composed of only 3% granite which is sprinkled like veins throughout the AOC. The Vayolette parcel is a west facing steep slope planted to old gamay vines and worked by hand in organic agriculture. Semi-carbonic maceration for about 21 days, no SO2 added. Aged in fiber for about 9 months.

David Chapel and Michele Smith met in 2013 while Michele, former wine director of restaurant Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, in Brooklyn, NY visited Domaine Lapierre while on a wine trip in Beaujolais. David had been working in the vineyards and cellar at the domaine in Villé-Morgon at the time and when Matthieu Lapierre was unable to host Michele’s visit, he sent David instead. After living together for a few years in NYC, the decision was made to move back to Beaujolais in 2015 and move forward with plans tofarm and vinify their own wine and start their own winery, Domaine Chapel.

David, the son of acclaimed chef Alain Chapel, was naturally inclined to become a craftsman.

In the 1980’s, his father Alain Chapel, would often host winemakers and build menus to pair with their wines. He forged friendships with the likes of Jules Chauvet, Marcel Lapierre, Pierre Overnoy, Gerard Chave and many other vigneron from his native Savoie to Burgundy and the Northern Rhône. He appreciated the company of people who were extraordinary at their craft and shed light on their work by featuring their bottles on his wine list, at the time a 3-star restaurant. The vigneron were friends that he cooked meals for and was an early appreciator of “natural wines.” David grew up in this unique environment, above the kitchen of Restaurant Alain Chapel and his view of life, farming and winemaking was sculpted by these experiences. He worked his first harvest in the Beaujolais in 2005 at the winery of Marcel Lapierre and again in 2006 at the winery of Christophe Pacalet.

His career in wine & cuisine continued at his family’s restaurant in both France and Japan and later in NYC.

In addition to the wines of Domaine Chapel, made from wines farmed by David and Michele, they have created Smith-Chapel, a range of négoçiant wines from organically farmed vines on the slopes of Beaujolais and the nearby Mâconnais region.

Place your order online for same-day pick up in-store.

For all orders over $50, we offer free local delivery within a 10 mile radius of each respective Shop in Morris and West Hartford.

We ship wine to many states. UPS Ground is our preferred third party carrier.