Son of a craftsman and the last link in a lineage of stonecutters. Xavier Vignon has always valued science, rigour and reason. Originally from Picardy, this insatiable pioneer of terroirs followed a career path worthy of his curiosity, strengthened by encounters, innovations and experimentations and coupled with a humanist spirit rooted in the culture of an omnipresent French art-de-vivrE.Leaving his paternal calling to one side, he developed a passion for mathematics, agronomy, geology and paleontology from an early age and, after much searching, embraced a scientific career by becoming an oenologist. And yet the family atavism did not escape him and the young man decided to embark upon his own travels which took him on a ten year tour of France during which he got to know France’s wine regions, two of which left a particularly strong impression on him: Champagne and Bordeaux.Fascinated by the science of blending, driven by the notion of freedom and loyal to his own high standards, Xavier Vignon began to build his project, nourished with his own experiences and personal encounters. He also dreamt of traveling afar, of adventure and fulfillment, and decided to set himself the challenge of carrying out two vinifications in the same year. For seven years he cultivated vines in the the northern hemisphere in early Autumn before moving to the southern hemisphere. New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia taught him a great deal in terms of large volumes and modern production methods. In 1996 he resisted an invitation from a large corporate group who attempted to lure him in and make him settle. His appetite for discovery prevailed and he felt himself drawn to the Rhône - the only wine region in the world that he had not yet explored. Xavier Vignon explored the Dentelles de Montmirail, from Lafare to Suzette, and it is here that he eventually chose to settle. At the age of 27, in awe of these new landscapes, he made the definitive decision to become a consultant oenologist and get to know the region in the minutest detail, with no stone left unturned, and earned a name for himself as an expert in the wines of southern France At the turn of the century, the Rhône was still somewhat under appreciated and known almost exclusively for the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. There was so much more to uncover, so much more to learn and develop in this virgin land of the old world, an Eldorado just waiting to be explored. Xavier Vignon was a pioneer in the region’s revival. He dared to experiment with new methods and challenge preconceived ideas in order to draw inspiration from his travels by opening new doors and creating new opportunities, true to his family DNA…