Domaine Buzea

History of the Estate

How was your Estate founded? Who founded it? What motivated you?

Georgian Buzea - The Estate was founded by my passionate father, who did not work in wine production at that time but wanted to change professions. He had always been attracted to nature and his passion for wine gave him the necessary impetus to give it a go in 1997. He then went on to harvest his first grapes in 1998. At first, he rented vines that were almost one hundred years old and had already been planted in Lessy, so that he could get a feel for it. But he already knew he wanted to plant in Ancy-sur-Moselle, an area he was particularly fond of. So, he bought some land, then cleared and planted it. It was hard work that would go on to benefit the next generation. Our Estate is a family business, with both parents and son currently working here.

What training do you have?

GB - I studied viticulture and oenology in Rouffach, Alsace, and then started working on the Estate in 2005.

Wine tourism services

What wine tourism services do you provide on the Estate?

GB - We do wine tastings and guided tours of the vineyards with discovery tours that include a “wine producer’s meal.”

Projects

What future plans do you have for your Estate? 

GB - I would like to reduce the amount of land we cultivate on the Estate to be able to focus more on what we have, but also put some sheep in the vineyards! I have lots of ideas, one of which would be to create a new vintage. But, above all, I would like to continue to help develop a genuine culture centred around wine.

Current situation

What is your Estate’s surface area and geographic situation?
GB - We have around 20 acres in Ancy -Dornot and Novéant-sur-Moselle, we decided to stop working the vines in Lessy to focus on those closer to home.

Could you tell us about your production? What sort of products do you sell on the Estate? How much do you produce, how many bottles?

GB - We produce approximately 30,000 bottles. 
We try to be original in the way we create our Estate’s wines to make truly authentic creations. Our wines are generally low in alcohol. We try to do things differently to produce distinctive wines. We make dry auxerrois, but also sweet, tangy, and sparkling wines (like Frizzant d’été and its easily recognisable emblematic blue bottle). We make pinot gris wines with a slight pink tinge, some amber-coloured gewurztraminers, medium-dry Rieslings, rosé blends, late-harvest pinot noirs and ice wines. The basic principle is that each wine needs to be vibrant, unique and have its own identity. We are here to impress after all!
In terms of varieties, we have (from highest to lowest quantities) auxerrois, pinot noir, gewurztraminer, riesling, pinot blanc, müller thurgau and gamay.

How would you describe the three wines you have selected? 

GB - The first is a pinot noir called “Croix de Lorraine.” It has a deep red robe and notes of cherry, in the mouth there are tannins, which means it goes very well with red and white meat dishes alike.
The second is “Frizzant d’été,” made from auxerrois grapes, in the Estate’s signature blue bottle! It is mild and tangy, low on alcohol and gives you a slight fizzy sensation on the end of your tongue. It is particularly well-suited for pre-dinner drinks, salads, and desserts with notes of white fruits and chocolate. This wine is full of surprises. 
The third one is “Vingtage,” its label depicts the epic of Gilgamesh. It is a unique vintage that was created to mark the Estate’s 20th anniversary (1998-2018). Only 1,900 bottles were produced for sale in 2020. It is a sweet wine, grown on a plot selection with a low yield and then matured on fine lees and in oak barrels. It has notes of honey and Mirabelle plums with a lasting taste.