Jean-Marc Lafont - Domaine de Bel-Air

Jean-Marc Lafont and his wife Annick took over the Bel-Air estate in 1985, crafting wines of great expression that strike a perfect balance between tradition and modernity. Since 1996, Jean-Marc Lafont has also been selecting wines from the Beaujolais and Mâconnaise appellations.

All the vines, with an average age of 40 years, were planted at a density of 9,000 to 10,000 vines per hectare, combined with short pruning, to bring out the best in the Gamay grape variety. The vineyards have been managed using sustainable viticulture practices since 1995, and this environmentally friendly approach allows for the production of more natural wines. The terroirs, situated on slopes with gradients ranging from 20% to 38%, make mechanization virtually impossible; therefore, the work is carried out primarily by hand. The harvest, also done by hand, is spread out over about fifteen days depending on the ripeness of the terroirs.

Each of Jean-Marc Lafont’s terroirs is vinified in small-capacity tanks to produce consistent, characteristic cuvées that are blended according to their uniqueness and structure. The only concession made to modern technology is temperature control, which helps preserve the unique aromas of our terroirs.