It’s the family motto of Jean-Baptiste Palais and his brother François, and it is hard to argue with. At the foot of Ambierle, the Palais family has been tending vines since 1850, and today their wines are every bit as vibrant, individual, and memorable as the family behind them. There may not be a castle, but there is a remarkable collection of vineyards, a deep family history, and a new generation carrying the estate forward.

The Palais family’s 15 hectares sit in the hills around Ambierle, with just six hectares planted to vines. Gamay, Syrah, Viognier, Roussanne, and Gewürztraminer all find a home here. Gamay is the heart of the Côte Roannaise, but Yann Palais has never been particularly interested in stopping there. He was the first grower in the region to plant Viognier, followed by Syrah, Roussanne, and Gewürztraminer, giving the domaine a distinctly eclectic identity. The domaine was established in 1850 and passed down through generations before wine production came to a halt in 1956. For nearly half a century, the vines were quiet.

In 2000, Yann Palais returned home after studying viticulture and oenology with a plan to bring the domaine back to life. He replanted three hectares of Gamay, now known as Le Carré du Prieur, along with 3,000 square meters of Viognier for Le Jardin des Moines. Bringing Viognier to Ambierle was hardly an obvious choice, but Yann was the first grower to plant it here, borrowing a grape from its better known home in the northern Rhône and giving it an entirely new expression. More Viognier and Gamay followed in 2002, along with Syrah, creating La Tassée des Anges and Le Temps des Griottes. Roussanne and Gewürztraminer eventually joined the mix, further expanding the domaine’s range.

Yann began converting the estate to organic farming in 2007, completing the transition in 2009. His approach has always been less about following convention and more about paying attention to the place itself, allowing the vineyards and the grapes to dictate what comes next.

Now, the next chapter is well underway. In 2022, Yann’s son François returned to the family domaine after working at prestigious estates in France, Switzerland, and Argentina, vinifying his first vintage at home. In 2023, his older brother Jean-Baptiste traded his apron as a cheesemonger for one in the cellar, returning home to help carry the family legacy into its next generation.

There is something particularly exciting about seeing these wines come to the United States now. The Palais family has the history, but they have never been overly concerned with doing things simply because that is how they have always been done. The result is a collection of wines with a strong sense of place, plenty of personality, and a healthy dose of family character.