Alphonse Mellot: Five Generations
Although the history of the Mellot family in Sancerre, which is relevant not only to this domaine but also to Joseph Mellot, can be traced back to at least the early 16th century, it is only with the most recent five generations that the story becomes more defined and tangible. It begins with Alphonse Mellot, the great-grandfather of Alphonse Senior (the father in the father-and-son team currently in charge of the domaine), and he was born at the end of the 18th century. What is more he was a vigneron, and so we know this particular Mellot was tending vines and making wine.
It was with this Alphonse that the practice of naming sons Alphonse began, and so when his son arrived he too was called Alphonse. Not much is known about this particular generation, this second Alphonse, but we do know that in the latter half of the 19th century another generation came along. This third Alphonse was a key figure in the development of the domaine. In 1881 he obtained a licence to market his wines within France and also to export them across the world, opening up huge markets for his wines. This same Alphonse, clearly not one to miss an opportunity to sell his wines locally as well as internationally, opened an auberge in Sancerre in 1882. Here his wines would be served alongside Crottin de Chavignol, the region’s most renowned cheese, pâté à l’auberge or terrine du vigneron, and other regional specialties. The bistro still exists today, on the Place Nouvelle Place, although it is now in the possession of Joseph Mellot, another branch of the Mellot family. I explain how this came to be further down the page.
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