Updated October 2021
Where to taste wine in Chablis
Chablis (pronounced SHA-Blee), a name that’s synonymous with dry, crispy Chardonnays; starkly different than many of the buttery-type often found in Sonoma. Located at the very north of Burgundy is the Chablis region, with a darling little town in the center.
As it is so far north, climate tends to be even colder and wetter than the golden slope of the Cote d’Or. For this reason, there are fewer hot days for ripening, and high-acid, mineral-driven Chardonnays are what’s in season. We’re huge fans of Chablis, both for visiting and the wine itsself.
Learn about Chablis and other classic starter white wines
Facts about Chablis wine region
- Grape variety: Chardonnay
- Style: Dry, zippy, flavors of limestone, seashells
- Soil: Limestone, clay and fossilized oyster
- Climate: Rainy, very cold. Benefits from climate change.
- Best time to visit: Summer and early Fall
How to get to Chablis
A short train or car ride from Paris will land you in this quaint village. We recommend booking early, as there simply isn’t much supply of housing on Booking.com or Airbnb. If necessary, stay in Auxerre, a larger city that is close by.
Due to proximity, it would be a crime to miss the rest of Burgundy before/after visiting Chablis. Check out our ultimate guide to Burgundy here.
Rankings of Chablis wine
Chablis is broken up into left and right banks. Left bank will offer more crisp, refreshing style Chardonnay, while the right bank tends to lean a little more on the rounder, creamier side. Wines have their own ranking system, similar to Burgundy AOC rules:
- Petit Chablis AOP
- Chablis AOP
- Premier Cru Chablis AOP
- Grand Cru Chablis AOP
Ordered from least to most in terms of desirable vineyard plots, sunshine and price. Much of this is subjective however, as some may end up liking a Chablis AOP over a famed Grand Cru; best to try it all!
Best Wineries in Chablis
Tastings are not as formal as ones found in Burgundy’s Cote de Beaune or Cote de Nuits. However, you’ll still need an appointment to taste at the most highly regarded producers. Since Chablis is so small, we recommend either walking or renting an e-bike to get around. We loved our experience with E-bike Wine tours, located in the center of town.
Jean et Sebastian Dauvissat
4th generation winemaker and one of the most respected in the region. Their portfolio of wines includes three Premier Cru’s and one Grand Cru. The tasting experience is old school and intimate: we rang the doorbell to a 17th century house in town and are led to their underground cellar. At the time, we didn’t speak much french, but we still communicated through our mutual appreciation of their craft.
The wines are all stunning with beautiful aromas that leap out of the glass and refreshing, mouth-watering acidity and paired with citrus and limestone notes. Our favorite producer in the region!
Domaine Raveneau Francois
A favorite of the famed wine writer, Kermit Lynch. Located just down the street from Jean et Sebastian, Raveneau sports a lineup of whites ranging from Petit Chablis to Grand Cru. The wines are very refreshing, with minimal, neutral oak being used in production.
Tasting here can be tricky, especially if you don’t have any French vocabulary, or are not in industry. Thus, it’s best to keep an eye out at local wine merchants and/or restaurants.
Domaine Thierry Laffay
With only 7 hectares, this family-run winery is the smallest of the bunch listed. Like with many small producers we taste with, it has a direct correlation to high quality, as the producer has an intimate relationship with the viticulture and winemaking.
Laffay offers Grand Cru and Premier Cru Chablis, but it was the Old Vine regular Chablis that caught our attention. As an added bonus, these are some of the most cost-effective wines found in the region.
William Fevre
One of the largest Chablis producers with a large swath of mainstream labels sold at the typical culprits. However, dig deeper and find that their smaller, reserve batch juice is absolutely incredible.
After trying a knockout aged Grand Cru from Fevre at one of the best restaurants in France (see below), we stumbled onto a harvest party. It was the end of harvest for the Fevre team and they invited us to come sing, dance and drink their wine. A beautiful moment in time that we cherish!
Honorable mentions
Best restaurants in Chablis
Au Fil du Zinc
This is one of our favorite dining experiences in Burgundy, if not all of France. A delicious rotating prix-fixe menu with a jaw-dropping wine-pairing of some incredible local wines. The highlight was a 2005 bottle from Willam Fevre. Reserve early as this place is often at full capacity.
Marguerite de Chablis
Excellent wine bar located in the center of town. Therefore, this is perfect for a pre-dinner glass of the producer you didn’t get to taste with, or something surprising.
Les Trois Bourgeons
An upscale, modern take on French cuisine. As good as it is, classic French food can get repetitive. The chefs here trained in Japan, and thus spice things up nicely.
