François Villard trained as a chef before setting up his domaine in 1989. Today, his vineyard spans 30 hectares over nearly all the appellations in the region. François also took part in a joint project called Vins de Vienne: him and two other master vignerons (Yves Cuilleron and Pierre Gaillard) replanted the very old Seyssuel vineyard. François loves to build, and with each vintage he creates new vats for his wine that he christens with a comical name, normally a play on words. He produces 400,000 bottles a year and is adored by enthusiasts and critics alike.

Fruit d’Avilleran, François Villard’s white Saint Joseph is a single grape variety of Marsanne which exudes indulgent aromas of honey and exotic fruits. On the palette, it seduces us with its velvety texture, its fine grain and its long, fresh finish with citrus notes. This wine, whose grape variety originates from decomposed granite soil, is produced thanks to low-temperature fermentation with native yeasts, weekly stirring for 6 months, ageing on the lees for 11 months and in foudre of new barrels.