François Villard trained as a chef before setting up his estate in 1989 following his sommelier and viticultural training. He favours late harvesting so that they berries are perfectly concentrated. Today, his estate spans 42 hectares over nearly all the appellations in the region (except Hermitage) and it has become a standout name in the Rhône. Since 2022, the entire property has been certified organic.
François also took part in a joint project called Vins de Vienne to replant the old Seyssuel area. He undertook this with two other master winemakers, Yves Cuilleron (Domaine Cuilleron) and Pierre Gaillard (Domaine Pierre Gaillard). The initiative was a great success.
François loves to build, and with each vintage he creates new vats for his wine that he christens with a comical name, normally a play on words. He produces 400,000 bottles a year and is adored by enthusiasts and critics alike.

Fruit d’Avilleran, François Villard’s white Saint Joseph is a single grape variety of Marsanne which exudes indulgent aromas of honey and exotic fruits. On the palette, it seduces us with its velvety texture, its fine grain and its long, fresh finish with citrus notes. This wine, whose grape variety originates from decomposed granite soil, is produced thanks to low-temperature fermentation with native yeasts, weekly stirring for 6 months, ageing on the lees for 11 months and in foudre of new barrels.