Patrice Rion

The Climb

At Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils in Premeaux-Prissey, Burgundy (1980–2001), the work was defined by repetition, attention, and the long accumulation of judgment that Burgundy asks of its winemakers. Patrice Rion spent that period building a practice around restraint and precision, with the village and its vineyards setting the terms of the craft. That experience carried into Domaine Michèle et Patrice Rion, founded in 2000. There, the same Burgundian discipline continued under his own name, with the estate becoming the place where what had been learned over two decades could be applied directly and without distraction.

Today

Since 2000, Patrice has served as founder and winemaker at Domaine Michèle et Patrice Rion in Premeaux-Prissey, Burgundy, France. He describes the wines in terms of minerality and the character of each appellation, a framing that keeps the focus on site rather than volume or force. The emphasis is on what each wine carries from its place, and on how clearly that can be expressed. “The key is limiting crop levels,” he says. It is a plain statement of method, and it points to a style built on concentration, freshness, and clarity rather than excess.

Signature

Patrice's signature dishes include Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Terres Blanches, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes, Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras, and Bourgogne Les Bons Bâtons. These wines sit squarely in Burgundy’s vocabulary, and they reflect a maker working toward structure, lift, and the specific register of each vineyard and appellation.

In Their Words “I like the character as it’s fruity and elegant – not rich and tannic – a true burgundy wine.” “I particularly like the minerality and the character of each appellation in each wine.”

Recognition

He is explicit about style preferences rather than ornamental language. “I prefer 13-13.5° for the best fermentations,” he says, and his description of the wines as “fruity and elegant – not rich and tannic – a true burgundy wine” sets out the same position from another angle. The throughline is consistency: balance over weight, precision over display, and a clear allegiance to Burgundy’s quieter strengths.