Domaine Leroy: Burgundy’s Biodynamic Icon of Terroir Excellence
From 19th-century roots to a modern Burgundy benchmark, Domaine Leroy unites heritage, unrivaled vineyards, and a visionary pursuit of perfection.
Heritage and History
Domaine Leroy’s story is deeply entwined with the legacy of the Leroy family, a Burgundy wine dynasty dating back to the 19th century. The family’s wine journey began in 1868, when François Leroy founded Maison Leroy, a négociant business in Auxey-Duresses. His son Joseph expanded the enterprise, and his grandson Henri Leroy made a historic move in 1942 by purchasing a 50% stake in Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC). This bold acquisition secured the Leroy family’s place among Burgundy’s elite, as DRC was and remains one of the world’s most revered wine estates.
Henri’s daughter, Marcelle “Lalou” Bize-Leroy, grew up immersed in this rarefied environment and joined the family business in the 1950s. By 1971, she had taken the helm of Maison Leroy, and in 1974 she also became co-director of DRC alongside Aubert de Villaine. Under her influence, DRC adopted forward-thinking viticultural practices, including early organic farming methods, reflecting her relentless pursuit of quality. Philosophical differences eventually led to her departure from DRC in 1992, ending a collaboration that had shaped the estate’s modern identity.
Freed to follow her own vision, Lalou concentrated her efforts on building Domaine Leroy—the estate winery separate from the longstanding négociant business. The domaine was officially founded in 1988 when she acquired exceptional vineyard holdings in Vosne-Romanée and Gevrey-Chambertin. These purchases instantly endowed Domaine Leroy with parcels in legendary grands crus such as Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Clos de Vougeot, Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin, and Clos de la Roche.
To finance these acquisitions, Lalou partnered with a major Japanese corporation that acquired a stake in the Leroy enterprise. From the very beginning, she insisted that all Domaine Leroy vineyards be farmed according to biodynamic principles—a radical decision at the time in Burgundy. Beginning in 1988, chemical treatments were abandoned entirely, and the estate embraced a holistic, biodynamic approach to viticulture following the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. This commitment quickly earned Lalou a reputation as a pioneering force in Burgundy.
In the same year, she also founded Domaine d’Auvenay, a tiny, jewel-like estate centered around her home in Saint-Romain, further demonstrating her devotion to crafting wines of purity and precision. Today, well into her nineties, Lalou Bize-Leroy remains the guiding spirit of Domaine Leroy, continuing to honor her family’s heritage while relentlessly pushing the boundaries of quality.
Maison Leroy, the family’s négociant house, still operates separately, sourcing grapes and wines to bottle under the Leroy label. Domaine Leroy refers exclusively to wines made from the family’s estate-owned vineyards.