In 1514, Pierre-Etienne Mellot established a family winery in Sancerre, Loire Valley, launching what would become a remarkable 500-year wine-making legacy. Choosing the Sancerre region was strategic, positioning the Mellot family at the heart of one of France’s most celebrated wine regions.
Meeting with Catherine
I had a chance to sit down with Catherine Corbeau-Mellot, who now heads up Domaine Joseph Mellot. Her husband, Alexandre Mellot, unexpectedly died of cancer in 2005. Before that, she had a sales and marketing role. Alexandre was expanding the vineyards, updating production facilities, and increasing its export business with a vision of showing the potential of wines from Sancerre and the Central Loire Valley. After his death, Catherine pursued development by acquiring vineyards and estates in Sancerre and the Loire Valley.
Catherine continued his great work and passion for making the world a better place. She has been committed to using sustainable practices such as plant cover, adding beehives, using lighter bottles and recycling all cellar waste. earning winery certifications such as ISO 14001, Agriculture Raisonnée, Agriculture Biologique, and High Environmental Value (HVE).
Catherine has also been named “Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole” and “Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite,” two of the biggest agricultural awards given by the French government. She was also named Commandeur in the Ordre du Mérite Agricole in 2022, meaning the Chief in Charge.
Key Mellot’s Involvement Over the Last Five Centuries (it’s 500 years, so I gotta consolidate)
- César Mellot: Served as King Louis XIV’s wine advisor in 1698, elevating the family’s reputation in the wine world
- Alphonse Mellot: The first Sancerre winemaker to exhibit wines at the Foire de Paris, winning numerous medals and expanding sales in Paris. You could say that between César and Alphonse, they put Sancerre on the map.
- Joseph Mellot: Took over the winery in 1969 after dividing the family vineyards with his brother Edmond. He named the estate after himself, establishing Domaine Joseph Mellot.
- Alexandre Mellot: Succeeded his father, Joseph in 1984. He expanded the vineyards, modernized the winery, and boosted exports. He pioneered in recognizing this area’s potential and these wines.
- Catherine Corbeau-Mellot: Joined the estate in 1987, handling sales and communications. After Alexandre’s death in 2005, she took over the management and has since led the estate to greater success, emphasizing sustainability, innovation and global expansion.
- Adrien and Armand Mellot: Catherine’s sons, who are continuing the family legacy.
Other key innovations from the Mellot family were that they opened the first restaurant in Sancerre, they were the first winery to enter wines in the Foire de Paris competition winning medals in the process, and they are credited with putting the region on the map.
The Wines
Before I tasted the wines, Catherine told me the family’s experience guides the winemaking process. They rely on knowledge that has been handled down by ancestors while staying open to advances in oenology. She said they aren’t confined by tradition but draw strength from it.
2023 Joseph Mellot Pouilly-Fumé “Le Troncsec” – notes of green apple, lime, lemon, tropical fruit, stone fruit, oregano and grapefruit. Catherine told me that this wine excited her “because it’s the first plot of vines we took over in the appellation in the early 1980s.
2023 Joseph Mellot Sancerre “La Chatellenie” had notes of citrus, tropical fruit, stone fruit and a great minerality from the terroir.
Being a Female Winery Owner
Catherine talked about how her rigor, seriousness, sense of observation, and open-mindedness helped her become a leader. She let nothing hold her back. It was combining the art of remaining humble but being confident.
Looking forward, she wants to maintain what her family has already achieved and pass along what she’s learned by navigating geopolitical and climatic challenges.
The Mellot family’s legacy in Sancerre is a testament to their dedication to preserving heritage while embracing innovation. Under Catherine Corbeau-Mellot’s leadership, Domaine Joseph Mellot has maintained its rich traditions but has pioneered a path of sustainability and eco-responsibility. By integrating modern winemaking practices with respect for the environment, the estate has grown and expanded across the Loire region. As the family looks to the future, especially with another generation of Mellot’s at the helm, their commitment to sustainable viticulture ensures that the heritage of Joseph Mellot will be preserved for future generations.
