Most people travel to France and buy a bottle of wine as a souvenir. But in the case of Englishman Chris Watson, he bought a 90-year-old parcel of land in Chablis. “I was clearly a Burgundian soul who had the misfortune to be born in England,” Watson, who later planted vineyards on the land and established Domaine Watson in the early 1990s, mused. 

Consequently, Chris Watson’s kids, Alex and Emma Watson, got to spend much of their childhoods in the family’s vineyard. The latter, of course, being none other than the actress who played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film franchise. 

Emma Watson and Alex Watson at their family vineyard

These days, while Dad is still focused on producing Chablis and Pinot Noirs, the siblings have instead branched out into the world of Gins. Alex and Emma founded Renais Gin in 2023, a Chablis-inspired gin made from distilled grapes from Domaine Watson. 

A Winemaker’s Take On A Gin

Call it a reinterpretation of Domaine Watson’s terroir if you will, the siblings certainly think so! Renais means “rebirth” in French, a nod to how salvaged grape skins from Domaine Watson upcycled and distilled into the base spirit for the gin.

The distilled grape skins are further mixed with a Kimmeridgian stone distillate – Kimmeridgian stone being found in the Northernmost part of Burgundy, where the limestone-rich soil is credited for imparting minerality to the wines from that area.

Domaine Watson, Emma Watson's family vineyard

During distillation, botanicals such as Grand Cru press grapes, rock salt, linden flowers, and acacia honey are added to the base spirit to create a profile that evokes the character of the region.

Just Another Celebrity Gin? 

Naturally, talk of Renais Gin tends to be focused on the fact that it was co-founded by Emma Watson, eliciting the question of whether this is simply another fast-tracked celebrity gins. And yet, while its undeniable that the celebrity association certainly helped to push the brand into the initial spotlight, this framing feels tad incomplete. 

Alex Watson in the family vineyard as a kid

Renais Gin is a family-project, one shaped by over 3 decades of winemaking experience. And for co-founder Alex Watson, whose career spans bar management and tenure at Diageo Reserve, this venture feels like a continuation of a long-standing relationship with the drinks world. 

We’re never one to rule out a gin before trying, so let’s give this a taste test! 

Renais Gin, 40% ABV – Tasting Notes 

Aroma: Juniper leads the nose, with a hint of white florals, chalkstone, and sea salt.

Taste: Wonderful texture and body here! It feels really creamy in how it envelopes the tongue. I get notes of juniper and pepper on the forefront, but what emerges most dominantly as you sit with this is a distinctive chalky minerality coupled with barely-there hints of chrysanthemum and honey.

Finish: Medium, with juniper pine, lemons, and sea salt. I also pick up a slight tannic quality as the spirit fades, akin to dried grape skins. 

Overall Thoughts

This is an intriguing one! A dry juniper-forward gin that also leads with a minerality that one can’t help but conjure up notions of crisp glass of Chablis. You can certainly feel the influence of the grape distillate and the stone distillate here, this gin carries a distinctive limestone chalkiness that’s perfumed by subtle hints of white florals and honey. Some nice peppery spice adds warmth and tingle to the experience, but never gets too hot for discomfort. Having it with soda water teases out its fruity, citrus notes more, and I’d also love to try it with an elderflower liqueur, which I reckon would complement those subtle floral notes in the spirit perfectly!

With Juniper & Joy, 

@lotusroot518

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