Pierre PONNELLE was one of the great figures of 19th-century Burgundy .
Born in 1847, he founded his own Négociant-Eleveur company in 1875.

In 1890, Pierre PONNELLE acquired the old Abbaye de Saint Martin de l’Aigue in Beaune. The Abbey had had many owners before Pierre PONNELLE made it his family’s residence. It is said to have been founded by Saint Martin in 377. In1023, it was gifted to an Abbey in Piémont and was later owned by the Canons of Le Chapitre de Beaune until the French Revolution in 1789.

With a keen interest in the sciences, Pierre PONNELLE single-handedly helped develop most of our modern–day oenological techniques . This pioneer in oenology received numerous distinctions in France and Europe for his work. He was also considered to be a great entrepreneur who helped the development of Burgundy wines . He was also a member of the Beaune Chamber of Commerce for 17 years, before becoming its honorary president.

At the turn of the 20th century, his son Lazare PONNELLE took over the family businesses.