Thomas Rivier - Beaujolais

Thomas Rivier is part of the new wave of winemakers who are taking Beaujolais by storm, bringing his wines and the appellation's reputation to new heights. 

Domaine Thomas Rivier is located in the Régnié cru with 3.5 hectares of Gamay vines located on the gentle slopes near the Régnié church – which with its two steeples, has become a symbol of the appellation. Planted on soils consisting of a mixture of granite and sand, his vines average at about 50 years old, with some even reaching 70+ years. These old vines produce very small and very concentrated berries, with low yields come harvest season, where 35 hl per hectare is considered a "good" vintage. 

As of 2019, Rivier has begun the conversion of his vineyard to organic farming. In the cellar, he tries to intervene as little as possible, working only partly in carbonic maceration, where the majority of his wines are aged in concrete tanks with a small portion in old barrels. 

Thomas produces only two wines: his Cuvée Tomix, which is an accessible, easy-drinking Beaujolais, and his Cuvée Régnié, a more serious wine that is made from the oldest vines on the estate and qualifies in a class by itself. 

Dating back to the 15th century,  the estate has been passed down in the family from generation to generation, with Thomas taking over management of the estate from his mother Claire in 2019. 

Elegant, pure and precise, Thomas' wines are some of the best Beaujolais we have ever tasted; the quality of his wines are on another level. Considering that Thomas has only been in charge for the last three vintages, it's no wonder he's turning heads among his peers. He is a winemaker to watch closely in the years to come.