The Chave family is the epitome of 'People, Place and Time'. They have been vignerons in the Rhône valley since 1481 - an astonishing 16 generations. Originally the family farmed only in St. Joseph, moving to Hermitage about a century ago when phylloxera swept through the region. Today Chave Hermitage Rouge and Hermitage Blanc are generally regarded as the appellation's greatest wines. 

In recent years Jean Louis has begun the painstaking process of restoring the steep St. Joseph terraces that his family has farmed for centuries, and has slowly begun to acquire and restore the steep plots that were abandoned in the wake of pyhlloxera (today most of the AC's production comes from the valley bottom and not the steep well exposed hillsides). This is very compelling news for lovers of Rhône wines since historically St. Joseph has been the most underrated appellation in the Northern Rhône. Jean Louis has also begun producing négociant wines under the name JL Chave Selections. The 'Mon Couer' Côtes-du-Rhône , 'Offerus' St. Joseph, 'Silene' Crozes Hermitage, 'Blanche' Hermitage Blanc, 'Farconnet' Hermitage Rouge all provide enlightening insights into the talent of Jean-Louis, who Robert Parker calls one of "the planet's greatest winemakers".