Wine estates New Aquitaine

Château de Thenon is a 12 ha wine estate in the commune of Razac de Saussignac, in the centre of the Saussignac appellation. Joël Evandre, an atypical and well-known character in the Bergerac vineyard, took over this vineyard located between the slopes of Monbazillac and the Pays Foyen in 1988. The production consists mainly of dry Bergerac, the terroir being the most favourable for the Sauvignon and Semillon grape varieties. But the red, rosé and mellow wines are just as qualitative. The Saussignacs are regularly awarded medals and are of exceptional quality.

The history of the Reich family estate has always been guided by passion. On 50 hectares of land, 25 of which are Cru Bourgeois de L'Argenteyre, the land, benefiting from an oceanic climate, gives life to wines of character. The grape varieties are composed of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot and 5% Carménère. The vinification is carried out in concrete and stainless steel vats. Then follows 5 weeks of maceration, during which the grapes are pressed in a vertical hydraulic press to preserve the best of the fruit. Nice welcome.

Located on the Osme River in Aigre, Charente, Maison Gautier is one of the oldest cognac houses in the world. It benefits from the river's unique humid environment, which gives its cognacs an exceptional aromatic richness. Maison Gautier offers a wide collection of cognacs, as well as cocktails, available in the boutique. Visitors can also take a behind-the-scenes look at how cognacs have been created for over 250 years.

At Château du Payre, you'll meet Valérie Labrousse-Marcuzzi, the^5th generation to take over the estate, which has been handed down from mother to daughter since 1881. There are two options for discovering the marvels of this château: the "Classic" tour, with an explanation of growing methods, a visit to the cellars and a tasting of 3 wines, and the "Gourmet" tour, followed by a tasting accompanied by an aperitif plate. The estate has won several Best Of Wine awards. The open house takes place over the Whitsun weekend.

Grand cru classé de Saint-Estèphe in 1855, Château Cos d'Estournel, which covers 100 hectares, is distinguished by its high-flying architecture. It was inspired by Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, who inherited vines near the village of Cos and decided to make wine from them. During the visit of the site, you will discover why its founder was nicknamed the "Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe", but also the specificities and the unique style of Cos d'Estournel wines, with a look at the vineyard and the gravity cellar, and of course a tasting on the spot.

Château Le Caillou (AOC Pomerol) and Domaine du Vieux Manoir (AOC Lalande de Pomerol) have been in the Giraud-Bélivier family for several generations. André Giraud's sons Stéphane and Laurent have taken over from him. Since 2002, Stéphane, who also lives on the estate with his wife, has been developing new technologies and reasoned working methods focused on the vines. In fact, hand-picking allows the fruit to be selected before the sorting table. Visits and tastings should resume by 2026.

Following major renovation work, the Renaissance project at Château Grand-Puy Ducasse (^5th Grand Cru Classé) is taking off. In the heart of the town of Pauillac, the estate now boasts a unique vinification and ageing facility. 46 vats suspended from the ceiling evoke the great organs of a cathedral. For the 2024 tourist season, the château will reopen its doors to the public, with a tour recounting the history of Maison Ducasse, Pauillac and Bordeaux and its wines.

With its powerful tower of the ^XIIth century, the Château Laroque is imposing. Laroque is indeed a stronghold dominating Saint-Emilion. Grand Cru Classé at the time of the classification of 1996, Château Laroque remains the largest wine estate of Saint-Emilion with 61 hectares planted on a limestone plateau. The grape varieties are the two main ones of Saint-Emilion: Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Take advantage of a visit followed by a tasting to admire the superb architecture and walk in the park.

Paving the way for the third generation, Eric and Philippe Gonfrier have been joined by Philippe's son Thibault. Together, they are committed to maintaining the vineyard in good condition and respecting the environment. Château de Marsan remains the benchmark for the family business. After extending and developing the vineyard, they have worked hard to make these wines a Bordeaux landmark. But it's at Château Langoiran that you'll want to visit the underground cellar, followed by a tasting session.

Surrounded by prestigious crus classés, Château de Gravas is an irreducible. Since 1850, six generations of Claverie and Bernard have succeeded one another on the estate. Florence Bernard will be delighted to welcome you and show you around, right up to the Gravas Trilogy, with art and style. Speaking of art, it's everywhere: on the bottle labels, each with its own story, and in the barrel cellar, where the barrels stand side by side with the colorful works of Alsatian painter and sculptor Paul Flickinger.

50 to 100 crates of Pinot Noir have been produced since 2005. Entirely manual production is based on the traditional culture and modern vinification (100%): 16 to 18 month rearing and bottling without gluing or filtration.

Jean-Yves Chaignaud keeps the secret of his recipe for cassis and raspberry, which has been spreading for generations. Many times rewarded with medals, you can enjoy the liqueur in the form of a checkerboard, but also why not stick to your vanilla ice. Property, shop point, but always the possibility to buy a few bottles. If you have the chance to go to Jacquiot, please call before you arrive very good.

Patrick Drouet stares his vineyard spans with eyes filled with passion and love. This vineyard, he knows it by heart. He has been born here, like his ancestors since the purchase of the estate in the th century, and perpetuates this tradition of wine growers with expertise, which often gives him great rewards. Cognac, fine champagne, pineau, share of angels, than names evoke this exceptional land, blessed gods. To respect this land, the Drouet house is the practical culture and the use of agrobiologiques techniques adapted to the whole vineyard.

It is a traditional wine farm, with a total area of 55 hectares, 21 of which are red and 34 white. Today the farm is still family owned - three generations work together - and is constantly seeking to produce healthy, quality products with a good quality/price ratio as a doctrine. The Castaing family likes to make discover its wines and the visitor never leaves without having tasted a glass. On the spot a beautiful gite to rent of 13 rooms of 450 m² with billiard table, swimming pool, and a lake with private fishing.

In 2004, the Le Proux de la Rivière family acquired a superb noble house whose winegrowing heritage dates back to the ^16th century. After discovering this former ^14th-century English stronghold and the atypical history of the estate, you can taste their wine in a tasting room combining ^14th-century architecture and street art. The owners have a particular fondness for the works of Libourne artist Gino Ruggieri. In addition to wine tasting, Château du Petit Puch also offers four guest rooms.

Cultivating this vineyard since the late ^19th century, the Roumage family warmly welcomes Bordeaux enthusiasts. They tell us about their 30-year-old vineyard, planted mainly with Merlot for the reds, but also with white varieties. Sustainable viticulture means greater respect for natural spaces, and for certain species of birds and insects. Lestrille wines are regularly cited and selected to represent their appellations. Don't miss "Les apéros du Château" every Thursday in July and August (Best of Wine Tourism 2023).

This great Graves wine from the Pessac-Léognan appellation is produced from a 36-hectare vineyard. Its quality is also due to the low yields imposed on the grape varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon 72%, Merlot 28% for reds, Sauvignon Blanc 78% and Semillon 22% for dry whites. The proprietors (since 2008) use their diplomas and expertise to produce prestigious vintages, unanimously acclaimed by the press and wine lovers alike. Visits and wine-tourism activities (tastings, food and wine pairings, caviar pairings...) are on the program.

At Château Peybonhomme-les-Tours, wine is a family affair. Winegrowers for six generations, the Huberts settled in Cars in 1895, on a vineyard in the Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. Today, Catherine, Jean-Luc, Rachel and Guillaume, all passionate about wine and biodynamics, run the estate. The care and attention paid to natural winemaking enable these wines to achieve complexity and purity. Château Peybonhomme's fruity and mineral range is available for sale via the website.

Come and admire an exceptional historic site, discover a terroir and enhance these pleasures with a gustatory journey through Thierry Lurton's wines. And gourmet pleasure at La Bonne Table! A former ^14th-century fortress, remodeled in 1857, Château de Camarsac overlooks Tuscan-style valleys. Red and white grape varieties are grown on 86 hectares, with different soil types to create interesting blends. The domaine has 5 regular cuvées: a white, a rosé and three reds: Prince Noir, Vieilles Vignes and Prestige. New: a crémant.

Following in the footsteps of her grandfather, Louis Filippi, Anne-Sophie will tell you all about the history of Château de Boutillon. This wine-producing château is said to have been a regular supplier to the King's court. On this 17-hectare vineyard planted on clay-limestone soil between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, the third generation of the family produces a Bordeaux Supérieur red, several vintages of which have been distinguished in the Hachette guides and at the regional Aquitaine wine competition. Visit by appointment.

The origins of this château date back to 1648, making it one of the oldest vineyard estates in Sainte-Croix-du-Mont. Jean-Guy Meric oversees the destiny of this beautiful 18-hectare vineyard. The vines, 100% Semillon, are over 30 years old, harvested by successive selections to select the best grapes at their peak of ripeness, when noble rot has done its work. Sweet wines are aged in oak barrels (Château Bel Air and Château Haut-Valentin). Also: an A.O.C. Cadillac Château Croix de Bern. Visits by appointment only.

In the same family for four generations, this estate is frequently cited as a benchmark, and its various vintages have won no fewer than fifty medals at national competitions. The vineyard covers 20 hectares in the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation. Hand-harvested, traditionally vinified, aged in oak barrels for special cuvées... Needless to say, a visit is a must! On the program: red, rosé and white Bordeaux.

In 2015, Vignobles Moncets & Chambrun undertook a major transformation to ensure the long-term future of their operation. The vineyard and winery were radically modified, and Château de Chambrun was integrated. Today, the estate covers 33 hectares divided into 43 parcels. In addition to integrated vineyard management, a conversion to organic farming has been launched. The creation of a pond in the château's grounds, designed to enhance biodiversity and promote a clean ecosystem, is also an important initiative.

Created in the 1690s, this family estate is a Grand Cru Classé of 1855. The house, built in 1840 by the architect Duphot at the request of the Countess of Lalande, has been restored with great care. A walk in its park with groves and its rose garden immediately plunges us into the romantic period. To see: the vats, the cellars and the magnificent collection of old and contemporary glasses. Very interesting, the wines rhyme with elegance, complexity and charm.

Château Latour, created in 1680, is one of the oldest vineyards in the Médoc. Since then, the boundaries of the plantation have not changed, a rare occurrence for a wine estate. The same perenniality as for its prestigious notoriety acquired at the beginning of the 18th century thanks to the action of its owner, the Marquis de Ségur, confirmed in 1855 when it was classified as a first great growth. In the center of the 47 ha of the enclosure, the round and white tower, built in the 18th century, proudly watches over the estate, only a few dozen meters from the estuary.

Located at the top of the Graves plateau, in the heart of the Pomerol appellation, Château Petit-Village forms a sort of village, which is said to have given its name to the property. The current architecture presents a very sober and luminous whole combining tradition and modernity. The grape varieties are 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Each year, the production is about 3,500 cases of Château Petit-Village and 1,300 cases for Le Jardin de Petit-Village, composed mainly of Merlot.

The property benefits from excellent exposure and produces Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux appellation wines. Their production has won several awards from wine guides, including the Guide des vins Hachette 2023, which singled out the Opus de l'Abbaye (chosen as the jury's favorite) and Marie Madeleine cuvées. The latter, for its 2016 vintage, won two medals in 2019: gold at the Concours des Grands Vins de France in Mâcon and silver at the Concours de Bordeaux et Vins d'Aquitaine. The château is open to visitors all year round.

After the third episode of drought in 7 years, it became clear that working the soil had to be approached differently! Since then, the family farm produces 6 appellations on a surface of 12 hectares in organic farming. Thus, all the wines of the Château have been certified "organic" since the 2013 vintage. Today in the hands of André, Nicole and their eldest son Guillaume, the vineyard offers excellent productions of Bordeaux Clairet, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux and Entre-Deux-Mers, which have been awarded many times in international competitions.

Château Haut-Piquat offers a magnificent view of the hills covered with vines and woods, and is home to the remarkable Picampeau mound, where an astonishing megalith stands. Acquired in 1972 by Jean-Pierre Rivière, the property has undergone extensive renovation. In 1997, a superb 460-barrel cellar was built, where the wine is aged for 18 months in oak barrels, a third of which are renewed each year. Château Haut-Piquat wines are distinguished by their deep color and delicate bouquet, combining finesse and roundness on the palate.

We read everything, heard about the exceptional qualities of Patrick Ducournau, the "gifted De", and his exploits throughout his young career. An improvement that one owes in part to the process of oxygenation wines that this eternal young man has invented and which is now school, used in all the world's largest vineyards. A gifted, certainly, a brain constantly boiling at least! At present, he continues to study the role of éclats in vats and it is still with one of his companies, Colsa Informatique, which is interested in the traceability of the vine to the bottle. And the man in the field continues to run the world…

Château Labadie deserves to be called a family business with a long tradition. Once the buildings were restored and modern wineries were built, the Château Labadie brand was born in 1970. The 72-hectare vineyard, facing east-west, is 75% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. It produces 210,000 bottles each year. This family property, now managed by Jérôme Bibey, is certified High Environmental Value. Their credo: produce good, but above all produce clean! Bee Friendly label.

A winegrowing and cider-making estate that has managed to diversify by offering a bistrot paysan (country-style bistro) every Wednesday evening in July and August, with tasty local produce, organic Iduki from local producers, charcuterie and AOC Ossau Iraty cheeses... From apple tree to bottle, it's a long and precise job. As for the wines, let's mention Lurumea, "le petit de la terre" in red... You'll appreciate the products of their passion.

4 generations in the wine business. In 1974, Etienne and Adrien created the distillery, now run by their daughter Martine, while her brother Jean manages the 16-hectare vineyard, laid out on narrow terraces. Domaine Brana, certified HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) level 3, has been in organic conversion since 2020. An ecological vineyard offering a rich diversity. Spirits, aperitifs and gift boxes now complete the range.

The creation of the Beau-Site Haut-Vignoble estate dates back to 1861. Located in the heart of the Médoc in Saint-Estèphe, its vineyards cover 19 hectares, divided into twenty or so parcels scattered throughout the commune, which makes the vineyard very representative of the appellation. It is a wine for laying down, needing two to five years, depending on the vintage, for the tannic structure to become harmonious and for the aromas to develop. Nice semi-buried cellar, typical of the 19th century.