Julien Coyaud, Vineyard Manager at Domaine Leflaive, explains the projects undertaken to introduce trees and hedgerows into the estate’s vineyards.

What does agroforestry in viticulture involve?

Broadly speaking, agroforestry consists of combining trees with other crops. In vineyards, trees should be planted as close as possible to the vine rows, while ensuring they do not compete with the vines themselves. It should be remembered that Burgundy’s vineyards, particularly in the Côte de Beaune, are planted at a very high density of around 10,000 vines per hectare, which already creates significant competition among the vines.

In practical terms, what projects have you carried out across the different areas of Domaine Leflaive?

In Mâcon, we planted 72 fruit trees, 15 ornamental trees, 15 berry-producing plants, and 260 meters of living hedgerow, all within a one-hectare field. This serves as a heritage orchard, helping to recreate a microclimate that can positively influence the biodiversity of our nearby vineyards. Similarly, one of the plots at La Jobeline has been enhanced with hedgerows and fruit trees, complemented by several beehives.

In Puligny-Montrachet, in 2025, we established another heritage orchard as well as an arboretum, designed as a walking path that winds around our vineyards. One particularly interesting indirect benefit is the restoration of habitats for natural predators, increasing their role in controlling vineyard pests and helping to re-establish a balanced ecosystem.

This year, in the Chevalier-Montrachet vineyards, we created an ecological corridor of hedgerows running from the upper to the lower sections of the site. This corridor helps reduce soil erosion and provides shelter for insects and small mammals.

Finally, at Nantoux in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, the project is more of a truffle orchard…

Yes, we established it in a meadow near one of our Chardonnay plots, on clay-rich soils with high organic matter content. It includes 170 trees of various species: Turkish hazels, Atlas cedars, beeches, sessile oaks, downy oaks (so called because their young leaves and shoots are covered with a fine down), and others. Our goal was to achieve the greatest possible diversity.

Agroforestry is now fully integrated into all our cultivation practices, as well as into future plantings. This is not a change of direction, but rather a necessary adaptation to today’s challenges, fully consistent with the deep respect for the environment that has always characterized Domaine Leflaive.

Esprit Leflaive is a collection of distinctive wines designed to explore Burgundy’s remarkable terroirs beyond the Chardonnay grape and the Côte de Beaune, with which the estate is traditionally associated. Produced from carefully selected Pinot Noir parcels, these wines are crafted in a truly artisanal spirit and in limited quantities. Brice de La Morandière, Managing Director of Domaine Leflaive, and Amandine Brillanceau, Technical Director, have selected three wines from the collection and share their thoughts on them.

Gevrey-Chambertin Village

Amandine Brillanceau: “The robust and somewhat austere character often associated with Gevrey-Chambertin is not reflected in this wine at all. A taster might expect a dense, rich wine, especially when it comes from a low-lying parcel with deep clay soils. To some extent it is, but without any harshness or austerity. This cuvée has a great deal of charm.”

Brice de La Morandière: “With Pinot Noir, we wanted to offer modern wines that are fruity, vibrant, and immediately appealing. Wines with silky tannins and plenty of energy, yet without excessive acidity. This Gevrey displays finesse and velvety texture, a somewhat unconventional expression of the appellation. Perhaps this comes from the care we take in selecting fruit from the grower we work with, and from our commitment to gentle winemaking.”

Beaune Premier Cru Les Épenottes

Amandine Brillanceau: “This climat is located at the foot of the slope among the Beaune Premier Cru vineyards, on deep and powerful soils that are sometimes overlooked in Burgundy. In reality, however, the appellation offers tremendous diversity from north to south. It can be seen as Beaune’s counterpart to Pommard Clos des Épeneaux, though with a more delicate and refined touch. It is a wine that is approachable and inviting even in its youth.”

Brice de La Morandière: “These wines deserve far more recognition than they generally receive. One of our greatest sources of pride is highlighting terroirs that are not considered the most prestigious. With Esprit Leflaive, we are not trying to produce wines based on famous labels; rather, we seek authentic expressions of vineyards that are not usually part of our estate’s portfolio. It was not an obvious step for Domaine Leflaive to produce red wines. By doing so, we are willing to take the risk of working with appellations that are less established and less celebrated.”

The programme for this eighteenth edition has been curated by Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Gautier Capuçon, who also serves as the festival’s Artistic Advisor, under the guidance of its founders, Aubert de Vilaine and Bernard Hervet. Domaine Leflaive is among the festival’s patrons and supporters.

“It is both a classical music festival, featuring world-renowned artists, and a philanthropic initiative dedicated to nurturing young talent,” explains Brice de La Morandière, Managing Director of Domaine Leflaive. “Major patrons finance instruments for exceptionally promising young musicians—advanced conservatory students between the ages of 18 and 22—who require these remarkable instruments to achieve the highest standards of artistic excellence.”

The string instruments are not purchased but specially commissioned by the Instrument Fund of the Musique & Vin Association at Clos Vougeot. Numbering twenty-nine today, each instrument bears the name of a prestigious Burgundy Grand Cru, such as the 2014 Günter Siefert violin “Corton-Charlemagne” or the 2013 Claude Macabrey viola “Montrachet.”

These instruments are loaned for two years to young musicians selected through annual auditions. For its concert on June 23, the Magenta Quartet will perform with two violins, a viola, and a cello crafted by the renowned German luthier Stefan-Peter Greiner. Designed as a coherent ensemble with a unified approach to craftsmanship and sound, the instruments were entrusted to the musicians several months ago.

“Passing on knowledge and encouraging dialogue between generations are essential in helping these highly deserving young artists reach new levels of achievement,” continues Brice de La Morandière. “The analogy with the world of wine is often striking. I compare our work as winegrowers to that of performers. The terroir is the musical score—the foundation we are given—while the instruments correspond to the technical choices we make in viticulture. Then, when we vinify, we become musicians, bringing our own sensitivity and interpretation. We are not composers; we remain in service of the music.”

For more information, visit the festival’s official website: musiqueetvin-closvougeot.com.