Verget: Redefining the Greatness of the Mâconnais
Few winemakers have transformed southern Burgundy quite like Jean-Marie Guffens. Through his pioneering work at Maison Verget, he has shown that the Mâconnais can produce white wines of finesse and complexity that rival the Côte d’Or’s most prestigious names. His obsessive attention to detail, combined with a restless curiosity and fearless innovation, has turned Verget into one of Burgundy’s most admired producers. Today, its wines capture the balance of richness and precision that defines the very best Chardonnay.
Founded in the late 1980s as the négociant arm of Guffens-Heynen, Verget was created to bridge grower intimacy and the flexibility of a merchant. From his base in Sologny, Guffens built relationships with some of the Mâconnais’s finest vineyard owners, sourcing top-quality fruit while applying his own exacting standards to every stage of production. His guiding belief is simple: great wine begins with great grapes. Each parcel is vinified separately, and no shortcuts are taken from harvest to bottling.
At Verget, traditional craft meets technical precision. The winery employs both oak and custom horizontal stainless-steel tanks, which replicate the gentle lees contact found in barrels while preserving purity and freshness. Grapes are often picked in several passes through the vineyard, ensuring perfect maturity and balance. The resulting wines combine texture with energy, showing both generosity and lift.
Today, under cellar master Julien Desplans, Verget continues to produce some of the most exciting Chardonnays in the Mâconnais, proving that authenticity and ambition can coexist beautifully.
Wines Produced
Each of these wines embodies Jean-Marie Guffens’ vision for the Mâconnais: wines that speak clearly of their origins, with precision, texture and life. Whether a regional blend or a single-vineyard masterpiece, Verget’s Chardonnays display the same hallmark traits—brightness, elegance and a deep respect for the vineyards from which they come.
Mâcon-Pierreclos
A vibrant expression of the region’s limestone soils, this wine shows ripe citrus fruit, white peach and a touch of honey. The palate is taut and mineral-driven, with crisp acidity that gives length and clarity. It captures the energy of young vines and the freshness of the cooler slopes around Pierreclos.
Mâcon-Villages
Made from selected parcels across the Mâconnais, this cuvée offers exceptional value. It is bright, approachable and pure, with aromas of apple blossom and lemon zest. Gentle lees ageing adds texture and depth, making it a benchmark for regional Chardonnay.
Saint-Véran
From vineyards bordering Pouilly-Fuissé, Verget’s Saint-Véran combines richness with lift. It is rounder and creamier on the palate, showing ripe pear, almond and delicate spice. The finish is precise and elegant, reflecting careful balance between oak and freshness.
Pouilly-Fuissé Les Combes Vieilles Vignes
One of Verget’s flagship bottlings, this wine is sourced from old Chardonnay vines rooted deep in limestone-rich soils. It is hand-harvested in multiple passes to capture ideal ripeness. The wine is layered and powerful, with notes of pear, honeycomb, white flowers and toasted hazelnut. It combines Mâconnais generosity with the precision of top Côte d’Or whites.
Pouilly-Fuissé La Roche
From one of the highest vineyards in the appellation, La Roche delivers incredible tension and minerality. It is a chiselled, finely detailed Chardonnay that opens with citrus zest and wet stone. Ageing in oak adds subtle complexity, but the wine’s essence lies in its crystalline purity.
Viré-Clessé
This cuvée balances ripeness and restraint, offering aromas of golden apple, jasmine and warm pastry. The palate is supple yet focused, with vibrant acidity supporting a core of orchard fruit and subtle spice. A wine that over-delivers on both depth and value.
