PORTRAITS

Winegrower at the Saint-Boil winery since 2010
President since 2024

At 43, Cédric Perraud embodies the next generation of visionary and committed winemakers. The new president of the Millebuis winery of the Buxy winemakers, he combines boundless energy with pragmatic thinking, forged by an atypical career path.

A winegrower in Saint-Boil since 2010, Cédric initially worked in industry before taking over the family farm. Whether in plastic joinery, turning and milling, cardboard manufacturing, or glassmaking, he learned the importance of teamwork in the face of extreme challenges. This experience still resonates in his collective and resilient approach to managing climate-related risks.

Under his leadership, Millebuis is looking to the future, blending economics, ecology, and innovation. True to its motto, "inform to make better decisions," it initiates debates on semi-high vines and disease-resistant grape varieties, engaging a wide audience. Aware of environmental challenges, it encourages the winery to invest in ambitious projects such as photovoltaic panels and partnerships with innovative nurseries specializing in disease-resistant grape varieties.

But behind this visionary is a man of heart. Marked by episodes of hail and frost that severely tested his resilience, he sees cooperation as an essential bulwark against future challenges. Blending tradition and modernity, Cédric Perraud proudly represents Millebuis, firmly believing that adaptation and mutual support are the keys to a sustainable future for Chalon-sur-Saône winemaking.

Winegrower in Jully-lès-Buxy,
winery administrator since 2015

Fabrice embodies a new generation of winegrowers associated with the winery. The cooperative spirit is already in his genes; his great-grandfather was one of the founders of the cooperative winery (1931) and his father Gérard was the emblematic president from 1994 to 2013. Encouraged by the evolution in agricultural mechanization, he put his pivotal drive into the estate, starting in 1968. With a professional viticutural diploma in his pocket, Fabrice set up shop in 2001, at the age of 22 and full of conviction. His first decision was to enlarge the size of the vineyard, gradually increasing it from 15 to 35 hectares. About half is Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise, the other half is Village and Premier Cru plots across Montagny, Mercurey, Rully and Santenay forming a delicate, difficult puzzle and requiring a lot of finesse. To run a vineyard such as this it is necessary to have a few reliable people and to resort to seasonal help. But Fabrice is the enterprising, daring kind who will not back down easily. It must also be said that he loves wine. The word “loves” is probably understatement…discover, taste, compare, understand etc. are perhaps more applicable and tasting is a joy that helps you grow. He has built a wine fan’s cellar, with bottles from all regions of France, which he generously shares with other enthusiasts. He loves to learn and is determined. His secret mission is to show to independent winegrowers that one can make excellent wines at a fair price, in all honesty. He also hopes that the relatively unknown Côte Chalonnaise will benefit from a better profile. In the wines he promotes one finds the scent of villages, hamlets, valleys, woodlands, stones, and all sorts of inhabitants. A job that he could also have tried is that of stonemason...

Winegrower in Saint-Vallerin,
winery administrator since 1994,
president from 2013 to 2024

François “fell into winemaking” when he was little. One of his grandfathers was an independent winemaker at a time when one could almost live through self-sufficiency and where one made wine for oneself. His other grandfather was one of the cooperative winery founders (1931) and was also its president. He thus inherited the two bloodlines, that of cooperation and that of being an independent. Until 1989 his father shared his time between 12 hectares of vines, his herd of 100 cows and cereal farming. François initially chose a career in mechanics due to a burning interest. This passion for tools has never left him and still pushes him to innovate and to compare with things elsewhere. In 1989, however, he didn’t hesitate to change because he has vineyard DNA in him, and it’s not an intellectual decision, it’s in your gut. At the age of 28 and newly-married, he returned to his origins to take over operations; he will never forget his first year of “active service” in 1991; this was the year of the big freeze and a very small crop. Many years of sacrifice later and without ever losing heart, he has acquired vineyards that now cover 16 hectares. Classified mainly as Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise with a very small amount of Montagny Village. That means many hillsides with steep slopes and a permanent challenge for the men and their tools. François has always preferred vines to wine, even though he knows that to perpetuate the noble profession of winemaker, it is necessary to invest oneself in commerce. He has chosen to meet the challenges of the winery by fighting for his beliefs; anticipate, build trust, train young people, cultivate new ideas, experiment... he has plenty to keep him busy, and that's what he likes.

Winegrower in Bissey-sous-Cruchaud,
winery administrator since 2019

Victor likes to live life to the fullest. He’s a young man full of enthusiasm and knowledge. He joined the cooperative when he was just 19 and the energy he brings is palpable for all who cross his path. He grew up in the Côte Chalonnaise’s beautiful landscapes, which have always been a source of inspiration for him. Victor is passionate about drawing and photography. And about the region’s nourishing soil too. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all winegrowers. Like his fathers before him, working in the vineyards came naturally to him. The family farm is primarily located in Chardonnay, with plots in Montagny 1er Cru, Montagny 1er Cru “Montcuchot”, Bourgogne Aligoté and Crémant de Bourgogne, as well as Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise Pinot Noir. Victor is someone of great integrity who invests a lot in his profession as a winegrower. Come rain or shine, and sometimes from dawn to dusk, Victor carefully shapes his vines in the hope of growing beautiful fruit. But he wouldn’t want to change that for anything in the world. Every day, he enjoys the breathtaking view of Buxy village and its surroundings, and that is something he couldn’t give up. According to Victor, boredom isn’t an issue in this profession as it’s constantly evolving: his grandfather witnessed the arrival of straddle tractors, his father saw the emergence of organic wines, and Victor himself witnessed the birth of robotics! He loves discovering the world a little more each day: experiencing new tastes, meeting people from different backgrounds and travelling to other beautiful regions in France. He likes to stray from well-known paths and spend time experiencing life beyond the vineyard. Victor has been paralysed down his left side since birth. This means he’s unable to carry out certain jobs in the vineyard but his father, employees and other members of the cooperative (whom he considers as his second family) are always there to lend a hand. Victor is proud to be a Director at Cave de Buxy Cooperative, working on a bigger, collaborative project, because he knows that together we go further. He focuses on what he enjoys and knows the best way to work with plants.

Winemaker at the winery in Saint-Denis-de-Vaux since 2005

Bénédicte has two full-time jobs: mother and winemaker. Working with vines wasn't always a given for her. An artist at heart since childhood, music is her passion. In fact, it was music that inspired her to go to university. Ultimately, she decided to quit, quickly realizing it wasn't for her. Later, she took the exam to become a driving instructor, but didn't pass. It was at this point that her life changed: while harvesting grapes for her brother-in-law, her love for working the vines was rekindled. In 2005, she bought out his mother's shares and became her partner. Since then, she has lovingly tended the land in her beloved valley. She still tries to dedicate some time to music. Free time is rare for her and her farmer husband, and vacations are seldom taken. But it's the lifestyle they've chosen. Years like 2018, when the harvest was better than expected, remind Bénédicte why she chose her profession. It's a year she won't forget. She hopes her farm will continue to enjoy many more successful years like this one, even if the next generation isn't yet ready to take over. Her daughter wants to become a police officer, and her son wants to drive farm machinery. Regardless, she's a shining example that life doesn't follow a simple musical score; it's far more dynamic than that!

Winegrower in Saint-Gengoux-le-National,
retired winery manager

Coming from a family of Jouvenceaux for three generations, Joël is a pillar of his village. After studying viticulture in Beaune, he set off to explore French vineyards as an oenology lab technician: Bordeaux, Cognac, Armagnac, Bandol, Beaujolais… The journey was enriching, but he missed the fresh air of the vineyard. He returned to Saint-Gengoux in 1983 and, at the age of 22, was granted two and a half hectares of land by the winery. The grandson of a winemaker and the son of a winery administrator, he preferred to set up his own business next to the family vineyard; it's his revolutionary side, according to him! Joël is very ambitious, and he is passionate about being involved in the wine industry. In a short time, he became mayor of his village, then vice-president of the inter-municipal council, as well as administrator and secretary of the winery, all while expanding his own vineyard. Hard work and pushing his limits don't scare him, as long as he enjoys it. Now retired, renovating the family's traditional stone huts (cadoles) is his new project, driving and motivating him. He's very proud to give these little cabins a second life. He's not worried about the future. Even if his sons never take over the farm, he has faith in Rémi, his employee, whom he considers his third son. A big fan of vintage vehicles, he knows he'll spend his time restoring them once he retires. Humble, passionate, and altruistic, Joël loves sharing his skills and experiences with others, especially with the people he trains in agricultural machinery at the CFPPA (Agricultural Training Center) in Beaune! His motto: "Life is a long journey, so it's better to live it first class than second!"

Winegrower at La Ferme de Marnay,
winery manager since 2009

Ludovic is a bon vivant; he loves life and good wine. But nothing pleases him more than tending his beloved land, the land where he grew up. Working in a GAEC (Groupement Agricole d’Exploitation en Commun – a type of agricultural cooperative) with his parents, he cultivates vines as well as cereals. His life is divided between these two crops, and he wouldn't choose one over the other for anything. Yet, his farm demands constant work throughout the year, from pruning and harvesting to grain harvesting. He likes to reminisce about the time when the vineyard was just a playground for him, his brother, and his sister, while their mother trained the vines. Today, he has taken over his parents' farm, "La Ferme de Marnay." The heart of his operation, his family home, but also the perfect place to share a good aperitif with friends. His favorite moment of the day? His morning snack, with a glass of Silex Aligoté, of course! Ludo is a proud patriot of his native Burgundy. The Buxy Winegrowers' Cooperative provides him with the camaraderie of the profession, a breath of fresh air in his daily life. Being on the cooperative's board of directors is, for him, a privilege, even a duty. He feels it's essential to be involved in the life of the cooperative. And then, exchanging ideas with older winegrowers—what a privilege! Advice, words of wisdom—Ludo absorbs them with the same enthusiasm as wine.

Winegrower in Etiveau,
winery manager since 2014

Henri is the patriarch of the Bonnet family. This passionate farmer hasn't always lived in Burgundy. He was born in the Monts du Lyonnais before moving to Etiveau with his parents in 1966. In 1988, he took over the family farm, but the workload was too much for him alone, so he gave up the sheep flock in 1990 to focus on his 7 hectares of vines and 30 hectares of grain. Time passed, and Henri decided to retire in 2014, with selling his land his only option. At the same time, his daughter, Bénédicte, finished a contract in her original profession, interior design. It seemed obvious to her: she would take over her father's estate! She started her new job immediately, with 14 hectares of land and 10 hectares of vines. She has since replanted. She's a woman of the new generation: she runs the farm single-handedly, drives the straddle tractor, makes her own "rikiki" (a small, homemade wine) with Chardonnay grapes; she likes to do as much as possible on her own! Even though it's not always easy, she's now perfectly fulfilled and doesn't regret this sudden career change. Life is good, it must be said: every lunchtime, she eats at her mother Edith's farmhouse table in Etiveau and discusses the farm's progress with her father. Besides all that, Benedicte is the mother of little Bérénice, who is already passionate about straddle tractors and other tractors. The Bonnet family has a bright future ahead!

Winemaker at the Saint-Boil winery since 2015

At just 29 years old, Angélique is what you might call a "force of nature." This vibrant woman joined her father in 2015 in a mixed crop and livestock farm in the charming village of Saint-Boil. Together, they cultivate 17 hectares of vineyards, 30 hectares of cereals, and raise 80 Charolais cows. Angélique sees this collaboration as a necessary complementarity, allowing them to cope with the enormous workload. Combining crop and livestock farming also provides them with a safety net for lean years. According to her, the most important thing for success is communication, since "Vegetation doesn't wait." In addition to her passion for the land, Angélique inherited from her parents and grandparents the values ​​she now considers essential: solidarity, listening, and sharing. She fully intends to perpetuate her family's traditions by partnering with her younger brother once her father retires. And that's not all! If working in three different fields already seems insurmountable, for Angélique it's only part of her life. In fact, this young woman is also a volunteer firefighter at two different fire stations, as well as the third deputy mayor of Saint-Boil. As you can see, Angélique is a generous woman who loves nothing more than giving her time to others.

Winegrower in Saint-Boil,
winery administrator since 2014

Évelyne has big blue eyes that savour you like a ripe Pinot Noir grape. She is a local girl, coming from a long line of farmers and who almost went "urban" but nature drew her back, under particularly difficult circumstances and it hasn’t been easy. Her grandparents owned 0.5 hectares of vines for their own use which her parents increased to 8 hectares. These are the parents who raised her with a strong work ethic and who, through a “passion” for the quest of the perfect meat, chose animal rearing with a herd of 200 Charolais cattle. In 1998 Évelyne went into business with her mother who had come from a wine-growing family. Évelyne went back to school to learn about wine production and understand the milieu. She could have been satisfied with just cultivating the vines and delivering grapes to the winery. Instead of this she chose to get involved in collective projects, and, in particular, meeting and convincing clients in the tasting room during her weekends. Since 2008 she has fully committed to a vineyard covering 18.5 hectares. And now, on a daily basis, there are three people vigorously carrying out the necessary tasks in the vineyard classified as Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise with a little bit of Montagny Village. Half red, half white. Aligoté, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There is plenty of variety. Évelyne likes to remember that wine is the natural partner to gastronomy, and we believe in sharing here. Vineyard work is very physical, you have to be there all the time, imagine that pruning alone takes four months - with three pairs of hands! Her daughter and her companion have recently joined her, adding new energy, but they are also training in Beaune. Proud of her work, she repeats endlessly that “nothing can be taken for granted” and she should know!