François Villard, a former professional chef, established his namesake winery in 1989. He planted his first vines in the prestigious Condrieu appellation of the Northern Rhône Valley. Today, the certified organic estate spans across multiple esteemed appellations. To craft his highly acclaimed "Mairlant" Saint-Joseph Blanc, Villard orchestrates an equal or near-equal blend of the Marsanne and Roussanne grape varieties. These dynamic vines are rooted deeply into steep, terraced vineyards defined by rapidly draining, decomposed granite and quartz soils, which impart a distinct, pulsing minerality into every sip.