Pascal Dufaitre
Since 1983, the historic vineyard of Chateau de Pizay has been run by WineShare's very own 'gentle giant', Pascal Dufaitre. When the local winegrowers bought the vineyard back from the drinks conglomerate Seagram, to return to a more individual way of making wine, it was Pascal they wanted to be in charge.
Pascal graduated with a diploma in winemaking from Dijon University, and after two years working in agricultural development in Africa, he returned to France and was asked to take on the challenge of making Pizay a top class Beaujolais producer.
The Dufaitre family have a proud heritage in the Beaujolais region. Their ancestors have been growing grapes in and around the Beaujolais Cru village of Brouilly since before the French revolution.
Under his careful management, top quality, award-winning wines are being produced, and selected vineyards from the surrounding villages of Morgon and Brouilly have been added to Pizay's wine range. If any winemaker could make UK wine lovers sit up and take more notice of Beaujolais wines, our money would be on Pascal.
