Domaine La Croix Montjoie

Located in the Yonne department, in the town of Tharoiseau, the La Croix Montjoie estate has been run since 2009 by Sophie and Matthieu Woillez, both agricultural engineers and oenologists. The estate’s vineyard spans 10 hectares within the still relatively unknown Bourgogne Vézelay appellation. This small, up-and-coming appellation is situated between Chablis and Beaune and covers four municipalities across approximately 100 hectares. TheDomaine de la Croix Montjoietakes its name from the cross located at the intersection of the roads to Vézelay and Tharoiseau. 

The Croix Montjoievineyard ,planted primarily with Chardonnay, is situated on a south/southeast-facing hillside with stony, clay-limestone soil containing fossilized remains of giant Gryphae. The vast majority of the estate’s production consists of white wines—the jewels of the appellation—made as single-varietal wines from Chardonnay. Three delightful cuvées are offered: l’Impatiente, l’Élégante, and la Voluptueuse. Rounding out the lineup of this promising estate are an Irancy red wine, a Crémant de Bourgogne with its festive bubbles, and the traditional Ratafia de Bourgogne.

This appellation is imbued with a sense of sacredness, as the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—overlooks the vineyards from the hill of Vézelay. This major pilgrimage site serves as a starting point on the route to Santiago de Compostela.