Ylan Mathieu & Cyril Andrez

Ylan Mathieu and Cyril Andrez — vintages 1988 and 1992 — are at the helm of La Cordée Blanche in Savoie: a young domaine of 7 hectares farmed organically (including 2 too steep to mechanize), spread between Frangy and Veyrier-du-Lac, taken over from Bruno Lupin’s Domaine Lupin. Ylan trained as an engineer and worked in Sweden, while constantly traveling back to deepen his wine knowledge — studying viticulture and oenology in Beaune in 2018, then gaining experience with Adrien Berlioz and Jean-Yves Péron — before moving back to France in 2023. Cyril, on the other hand, is a local, raised in Thorens-Glières, who first trained in rural law… but the call of the land proved too strong.Nothing initially pointed to the two teaming up, yet both were looking to settle in the region. Bruno ultimately brought them together and planted the (brilliant!) idea. A gentle transition is underway over 6 years: in 2023 they vinified 10% of the domaine, and by 2025, half. “We’re really lucky,” Ylan says.