Sebastien Besson

Sebastien Besson represents the vibrant new wave of winemakers shaping the Beaujolais landscape. Since stepping into his family's business as the fourth generation in 2012, Sebastien has brought a fresh vision to the table. Drawing inspiration from local legends like Jean Foillard and Georges Descombes, he set out to steer Domaine du Penlois towards a more natural and authentic path. Gone are the days of mechanical harvesting; in comes the era of meticulous hand-picking and carbonic maceration.

2017 marked a milestone with the debut of his namesake cuvée from the Chénas appellation. Today, 12 of the family's 30 hectares have transitioned to natural production, guided by sustainable principles. Every grape is handpicked and then cooled to 10°C, followed by a 15-20 day journey through carbonic maceration using natural yeasts. The wines then spend 8-10 months in concrete or steel tanks before bottling.

Sebastien's wines boast a distinctive character that is quintessentially Beaujolais - deep, complex, and bursting with an extraordinary freshness of fruit. Discover the unique expression of tradition and innovation in every bottle.