{"title":"Chateau de Grand Pre","description":"\u003cp\u003e“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” could be applied to Romain Zordan of Château de Grand Pré, but comes across as a bit of a backhanded compliment. What he knows is worthy of attention on its own: how to make some of the most crushable, pure-fruited, joie de vivre-suffused Beaujolais.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe “who he knows” part might explain why he’s gotten so darn good at it. Romain joined the family business in 2012, after a stage with J.F. Ganevat, in the Jura. The experience turned out to be “fruitful” for both parties. Unsurprisingly, Romain brought home the knowledge and skills imparted by one of the world’s preeminent natural-wine-superstars, and Jean-François got grapes!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat does Ganevat, maker of the Jura’s greatest wines, want with Gamay from Beaujolais? Preservation. Before strict AOC laws codified the 5 “legal” grapes in the Jura, there were many other, more obscure, varieties indigenous to the region. Ganevat has painstakingly cultivated those he could still find, but the quantity was so low he’s taken to blending the reds with the complimentary Gamay, from the organically farmed, old-vine Grand Pré vineyards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRomain’s connections also run a little closer to home, as in his own cellar, which he shares with his cousin, the uber-culty Yann Bertrand. They share not only the family vineyards but an all-star list of Beaujolais grand-masters for mentors: Jean-Louis Dutraive, Jean Foillard and Yvon Métras, as well as with Jacques Néauport, who was Jules Chauvet’s right-hand man.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWho you know only takes you so far, but Romain makes the most of his access to great winemakers. Their influence is felt in the spirited and terroir-driven style of the Château de Grand Pré’s wines.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/sf.flatiron-wines.com\/collections\/chateau-de-grand-pre.oembed","provider":"Flatiron SF","version":"1.0","type":"link"}