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Modern development : Robert DROUHIN In 1957, the helm passed to Robert Drouhin. He was 24 years of age and had been walking the vineyards with his uncle Maurice since early childhood. He started tasting wine at age 14. Desirous to improve quality even further, he acquired vineyards in some of the more prestigious appellations, such as Musigny, Griotte-Chambertin, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, Bonnes Mares, Grands Echézeaux. He was one of the first to believe in the future of Chablis. Before the INAO enlarged the appellation, Robert Drouhin, between 1968 and 1972, had already purchased vineyards in the heart of this region which had long been neglected (38 hectares/95 acres). "Things must change if they are to remain the same" : Robert Drouhin seems to have adopted as his own this famous quote by Giuseppe di Lampedusa. In the 1970’s, he put every method to the test in order to bring back the style of wines he still had fresh in his memory. This led him to become one of the first to reconsider the methods then being practiced in Burgundy and to adopt "culture raisonnée" : limiting fertilizers and chemicals treatments, reducing the yields… 
In 1973, he hired the first woman enologist in Burgundy, quite a revolution for the time ! Laurence Jobard, the daughter of a vineyard owner and a biologist par profession, impressed Robert Drouhin with her qualities as a taster, her assured judgment and her expertise. They worked together and built the first enology laboratory at the winery. Laurence Jo b a rd helped train Véronique Drouhin, who is now in charge of the Oregon operation. Although he was already familiar with most of the West Coast vineyards, in 1987 Robert Drouhin decided to acquire a vineyard in Oregon, south of Portland, in an area where he knew Pinot Noir would excel. "It was a challenge and a desire to make Pinot Noir in the New World". The venture was a great success : with the very first vintage (1988), the reputation of Domaine Drouhin Oregon was made.
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