The influential Burgundian winemaker Michel Lafarge from Volnay, owner of the Domaine Michel Lafarge, died a few days ago at the age of 91 years. Lafarge is considered one of the pioneers of the success of Burgundy wines after the Second World War. He was one of the first winemakers with small operations in Burgundy to bottle his own wines and sell them abroad. Under his management, and from 1978 under that of his son Fréderic, the domain developed into one of the most renowned in the Côte de Beaune. Michel Lafarge had worked in his father's business since the 1940s.
Very early on, the astute but always modest winemaker began to avoid pesticides in his twelve hectares of vineyards. Later he obtained organic certification and converted the cultivation to the Demeter guidelines of Biodynamics.
Lafarge's work is carried on by his son Fréderic and his wife Chantal and their daughter Clothilde.
(uka)