The first documented mention of the Joliets in Burgundy dates back to 1570, with records of Messieurs Claude and Jehan Joliet. Residents of Rue de Chaullois in Fixin, they worked for the Cistercian monks tending the vines of the Clos de la Perrière.
The street’s name originates from the nearby spring that supplied water to the Domaine de la Perrière.
The Joliet family became owners of Domaine de la Perrière in the 19th century when Henri Joliet inherited it through his marriage to Pauline Serrigny, daughter of Denis Serrigny, in 1875. Henri, a member of the parliament in Dijon, expanded the family holdings by acquiring additional farms and vineyards.
His son Pierre took over the estate but was forced to sell part of it due to World War I and subsequent economic crises. In 1942, Jehan Joliet inherited the estate during a particularly challenging era. Despite financial hardships, Jehan preserved the Clos de la Perrière as a monopole, ensuring its survival as the sole five-hectare vineyard under family ownership.
For the first three generations, most of the estate’s wines were sold in barrels to merchants in Beaune and Dijon, who handled bottling and distribution domestically and internationally. At the time, wine tourism in Burgundy was virtually nonexistent.
In 1970, Philippe Joliet became the first family member to bottle and market the wines of Clos de la Perrière himself. He focused on improving the vineyard’s quality by replacing outdated vines and refining vinification techniques. Philippe also began welcoming the public to the estate with tasting tours, marking the start of direct sales in France and abroad.
By 1990, approximately half of the wines were bottled at the estate. In 1998, Philippe’s son, Bénigne Joliet, took over the domaine and successfully retained its monopole status through meticulous stewardship during family transitions.
Environ la moitié des vins était mis en bouteille au domaine en 1990. Il passera complètement la main à son fils Bénigne Joliet en 1998, qui s’occupera de maintenir une nouvelle fois le domaine en situation de monopole malgré les successions. La recherche d’excellence continue.
In 2007, Bénigne built a new winery on the estate to vinify the entire Clos de la Perrière onsite. This decision aimed to recapture the aromatic harmony once sought by the Cistercian monks centuries earlier.
Today, Clos de la Perrière is cultivated and vinified exclusively by Domaine Joliet, led by Bénigne Joliet and his daughter, Camille Joliet. Their shared mission continues to honor the family’s storied legacy while striving for excellence in every vintage.