L’Obédiencerie, Domaine Laroche

What you will see

The visit leads through the old house and down into the cellars, where the foundations of a Carolingian stair tower can be seen. The highlight is the great 13th-century press, once the only press in town. Guides tell the story of the canons of Saint-Martin and their vineyards. The tour ends with a tasting of Domaine Laroche wines, and some formats add food pairings.

History

In 867, King Charles the Bald gave the monks of Saint-Martin of Tours an estate at Chablis, where they found refuge from Viking raids. According to the domaine, they hid the relics of Saint Martin in a niche that can still be seen. The canons who ran the Obédiencerie held large vineyards and played a major part in the early reputation of Chablis wine.

The house became a private home from the 15th century, when mullioned windows were added and the cellars were deepened and vaulted. A lintel carries the date 1633. The façades and roofs, and the old press with the building that shelters it, have been listed historic monuments since 1959. Domaine Laroche now uses the cellars to age its wines. The official listing dates its main building phases to the 13th and 15th centuries.