Michel Tardieu is one of the most highly acclaimed négociants in the Rhône. He works with 60 to 70 vignerons throughout the northern and southern Rhône. Two-thirds of Michel's production is in the southern Rhône, where his working relationships include 10 growers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Michel’s talents have been widely recognized for having secured long-term, hand-shake deals with vignerons who carefully guard the location of their 50- to 100-plus-year-old vines. During the course of the year, Michel regularly visits the vignerons and walks their vineyards. When harvest and fermentation are complete, the wines are racked into Michel’s barrels and aged in his cellar.