Domaine Watson’s Burgundy Gin

Add some Hollywood glamour – with French and British twists-to your summer drinks tray this year with a beautiful bottle of Renais, the grape gin born in the vineyards of Burgundy.

It is here at Domaine Watson in the rolling limestone upland hills of Chablis and Irancy that Chris, the father of actress Emma Watson and her brother Alex (pictured), has been making wine for more than 30 years.

The creation of Renais was a labour of love for Alex, whose passion for winemaking is deeply ingrained in his family’s history. This led him to meticulously develop a process by which grape skins could be ‘upcycled’ via fermentation and distillation. He also worked out how to get grape ethanol up to 96% proof and to transmit the tasting notes of French wine into the process. The result is a bold and vibrant gin with a distinctive flavour profile, thanks not only to carefully selected fresh botanicals but also to the minerality of the Kimmeridgian stone in the Chablis terroir.

£48 for 70cl from Renais, Fenwick, Master of Malt and Amazon.

From France Today Magazine

Lead photo credit : © RENAIS; TAXI ANGLAIS