Incredible Wines and Biodiversity from Domaine Armand Heitz
3/3/2025
[Armand Heitz with his Cattle (Photo: Armand Heitz)]
Bourgogne Blanc and Rouge to Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres and Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Poutures
The discussion of farming is a common one here at Chambers Street Wines, and is truly one we take pride in. Right at the time when it seems like so many are turning towards organic and biodynamic practices, there comes along a vigneron who is doing even more to ensure healthy grapes as well as healthier land than what was passed onto them. One such grower would be Armand Heitz.
The history of the Domaine goes back to 1857 but it isn’t until more recent years that acclaim has reached this family. Armand Heitz’s mother Brigitte Lochardet leased her share of vineyards to Maison Joseph Drouhin for twenty-five years. During this period, the Drouhin family farmed organically and in turn had very high-quality grapes off this land. The contract lease ended in perfect timing of Armand graduating with his oenology degree from Switzerland, returning home in 2011 to farm just one plot of land, with his family allowing him to take full control of the Domaine the following year.
[Monopole Clos des Poutures in Pommard (Photo: Armand Heitz)]
Armand continued on the Drouhin’s path of farming organically and even spent time experimenting with biodynamic practices. However, after some time at the helm of this large domaine, he switched his focus towards permaculture and agroecology. This change began in 2019 and for permaculture involves practices that mimic natural ecosystems, which in turn reduces waste and environmental impacts. While agroecology focuses on the balance between plants, animals, humans, and the environment. For Armand, this all has helped him to bring life back into the soil. He states how, "[I] realized that a wine estate, even one covered in all the labels, is neither autonomous nor sustainable. This is why I wanted to diversify my activity with livestock farming in order to move towards a more virtuous agronomic model . Reintegrating animals into the heart of a farm is essential. They consume grass or harmful insects and return as much microbiology to the soil as possible with their droppings. They recycle our waste and contribute to natural selection. A pasture without animals is a pasture doomed to disappear." This philosophy was taken even one step further in 2021, when he began cattle and sheep farming to further nourish soils and strengthen biodiversity.
One last major change since their release in 2013, is the jump from the name Domaine Heitz-Lochardet to Armand Heitz. Not much change in the true style of winemaking from one to the next but a change nonetheless. Even with the name changing, the wines have been outstanding over the last decade, with a wide range of whites and reds all across the Cote de Beaune. The white wines are generous, intense, rich but still beautifully lifted. The reds are fairly light on their feet with ripeness, depth, and great drinkability. Today we have an amazing range of white and reds wines from Bourgogne Blanc and Rouge through Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres and the Monopole Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Poutures!
-Hanna Krilov
