The Dezat family is one of the oldest wine-growing families in Sancerre, with references to the family dating as far back as 1550. In 1948, Firmin Dezat’s grandfather, Andre took control of the historic family domaine and gave it new life, modernizing it and improving quality along with his sons. Today Firmin Dezat is the 18th generation to grow grapes and make wine on the land of his ancestors. Firmin is now the steward of 23 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir vines spread throughout the appellations of Sancerre, Menetou-Salon and Pouilly-Fumé. They represent all three principal soil types of the region, terres blanches (chalk), caillotes (a gravelly limestone-based soil), and silex (flint), that bring complexity, purity and fine character to the wines produced.

Firmin’s approach is to be more of a guide than that of a maker of wines. He believes that the soils give the wines their identity and that the vine and growers are there to simply accompany nature in the development of a wine’s character. For both the white Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, grapes are sorted and gently pressed into temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, to undergo a 30-60 day cool fermentation. The wine then continues aging on the fine lees for several months before being bottled in the following spring. Firmin prizes his special terroirs and farms meticulously to preserve their special ecosystems. The vineyards are now farmed organically. All this special attention to detail combined with historical know-how, make Firmin Dezat’s wines sing of their place and culture.