The Michel family have a winemaking history dating back to 1670. Since 1850 they have been making wines in the heart of Chablis in northern Burgundy and it remains a family business, headed up today by Guillaume Michel. 25 hectares are under vine planted with Chardonnay on Kimmeridgian soils, and Portlandian soils for the Petit Chablis. The vines have an average age of 45 years. All the vineyards are within 2 kilometres of the winery; covering the four Chablis appellations: Chablis Grand Cru, Premier Cru. Chablis and Petit Chablis. From these vineyards a broad range of wines including 3 Grand Crus and 8 Premier Crus are produced. Louis Michel take a minimum intervention approach. They only ferment with native yeasts, the wines go through natural malolactic fermentation and they eschew the use of oak, only vinifying their wines in stainless steel, seeking to produce Chablis in the purest form. They have been doing this since the 1960's. It was a bold decision at the time, but the practice has now become widespread. As a result their signature style is pure and fresh wines, exuding finesse.