John Shafer was a Chicago publishing director before he headed west and acquisitioned Shafer Vineyards in 1972, his first vintage being the 1978. John’s son Doug became part of the team as winemaker in 1983. Elias Hernandez joined a year later and recently celebrated his 40th harvest at the estate. Hillside Select is Shafer’s flagship wine, a 100% cabernet sauvignon and its grapes selected only from the best sites. In 1983 the team realized its potential and henceforth called it Hillside Select. Robert Parker labelled it “… one of the New World’s most profound Cabernets.” Other Shafer Vineyards cuvées include the TD-9 and One Point Five cabernet sauvignon, a merlot, the Relentless Syrah/Petite Sirah blend and the Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay.

Jeanne Gibourg and André Mugneret established the domaine in 1933. At the time they produced a Bourgogne Rouge, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges and Echezeaux Grand Cru. Their son Georges expanded the estate by purchasing parcels in different appellations. In 2009 Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg and Georges Mugneret merged into Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg. Today, leadership is in the hands of the third generation, the two sisters  Marie-Christine and Marie-Andrée. Spread over eight hectares and nine appellations, the domain produces twenty to thirty thousands bottles per vintage, depending on harvest conditions.

Georges Mugneret acquired ‘Les Chaignots’ in 1971. ‘Chaignots’ is derived from ‘Chasne’, old French of the world ‘chêne’ which means ‘oak’,  referring to the oak trees formerly present in the vicinity. It is described as ‘A Nuits with hints of Vosne’. Marie-Christine bought ‘Les Vignes Rondes’ in 1981 and was depicted as ‘the most typical’ Nuits-Saint-Georges of the domaine and believed to have slighter more longevity than ‘Les Chaignots’.

Albert Reynaud was a notary before he bought Rayas in 1880. In 1920, his son Louis took Rayas further by expanding local and national distribution. In 1935-1938 he purchased Domaine des Tours in Sarrians and left its leadership to his son Bertrand. In 1945 Louis acquired Château de Fonsalette, north-east of Orange in the commune Lagarde-Paréol. His other son Jacques took over Rayas and Fonsalette in 1978. Jacques’ nephew Emmanuel, who already worked at Domaine des Tours since 1989 and later managed it, took over the reins of all three domains in 1997.

Currently, the wines are produced in two separate cellars. Château Rayas vinifies Château Rayas, Pignan, Château de Fonsalette and Pialade, while Château des Tours produces Château des Tours, Domaine des Tours and Parisy. Château des Tours labels a Vacqueyras red blend and a Côtes du Rhône red blend and white 100% grenache. Domaine des Tours classifies a Vin de Pays de Vaucluse red blend and white 100% clairette.