Presentation
Bernard
Dampt, is a land
worker in his village like his parents… grandparents and
great-grandparents. He could not figure out that he could be the last
member of his family living from agriculture.
In 1980, he
decides to plant or buy grapevine in an attempt to guarantee his 3 boys
future. Member of la Cave Coopérative Chablisienne, he produces his first
grape crop in 1981 in the Vignoble de Chablis.
In 1982, in the
midst of the Chablis label crisis, he proceeds to new plantations always
bearing in mind his boys future !
In 1985.. Éric,
his eldest, joins him and becomes a winemaker of the Chablisienne
producing his first crop in 1988.
Realizing the
difficulties of acquiring new lands in the Chablisien, they decide
together to restore the Vignoble Tonnerois which was threatened by the
grape Phylloxera between 1870 and 1890…
In 1987, they
plant their first vine trunks in Tonnerre and this is how the Chardonnay
stroke again around the village.
In 1990
Emmanuel joins them to continue, together with the family the renovation
of the vineyard, but he will choose to commercialize the ►
Bourgogne
Tonnerre in bottles which has so far been commercialized in wort/raw (in
the wine cellar cooperative).
Each of
Bernard, Éric and Emmanuel has his own vineyard, however they make all the
decisions together. In 1991, the two brothers pooled their means through
an integral CUMA which invests in various equipment such as high clearance
tractor, wine press, vat wine making, vehicle for delivery and
construction….
1993… Bernard
Dampt decides to retire and leaves the business to his sons. In 1998,
Hervé Dampt joins his brothers and takes back his father’s old vineyard.
In 2003, while
the Domaine is in full growth, the first association of the Dampt brothers
(Dampt Frères Earl) is created with their neighbor Jacky Poussière
who is also a viticultural farmer..
The Earl
Dampt-Dupas is founded in 2005 with Mrs Dupas ; she mainly brings to the
domaine the Chablis 1st Cru “Fourchaume” and the Grand Cru “Les
Preuses”.
In 2006, the
wish to pool the workforce gave birth to the "Groupement d’Employeurs de la
Grande Côte" of which every company is member.
In 2009, Éric and
Emmanuel have joined together to create one structure of marketing, "Vignoble
DAMPT FRÈRES". This one brought administrative simplification and
commercial legibility.
Today,
we operate about 135 acres of vineyard in Tonnerre and Chablis, and sell
every year about 900 000 bottles to a large range of customers
(individuals, cellar men, restaurants, supermarket distribution,
exportation to the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium,
Ukraine, Russia, Ireland, Germany, Albania, Switzerland, the United States…).
A beautiful family
story !
…
©
Sébastien Boulard - Photograph
