Château Guiraud

Château Guiraud takes its name from a Bordeaux négociant, Pierre Guiraud, who purchased the estate in 1766.

Wishing to share the rich heritage of Chateau Guiraud, the team is delighted to welcome visitors all year round. You will arrive via the ancient Gallo-Roman road shaded by ancient plane trees and will thus discover one of the most magical places in the vineyards of Bordeaux. You may not know much about the château when you arrive, but when you leave you will be spellbound.

Many times the property has won the first prize in the "Best of wine Tourism" contest organized by the Bordeaux chamber of commerce; in 2008 and 2016 in the category "Promoting tourism via environmental practices"; in 2011 in recognition of "Quality of service at the property".

Hospitality at Château Guiraud is faultless, and the personal investment is enormous; the property has been open to the public for over 30 years and the garden has been specially created at the heart of the vineyard to illustrate the environment-friendly practices to the visitors. In 2017 the circuit followed by visitors was modified to make the experience even more comfortable and enjoyable. The latest project is the opening of the restaurant, the "Chapelle de Guiraud", inaugurated in February 2018. Surrounded by vineyards, the restaurant captures the spirit of a traditional French bistrot, and its cuisine is based on produce that is both seasonal and locally sourced.

Sauvignon blanc is a magnificent grape variety that has been selected from the oldest strains available in the property's conservatory. It represents 35% of the vines planted at Chateau Guiraud and is vinified separately, thus participating in the specific signature of Château Guiraud, Premier Grand Cru Classé in Sauternes in 1855.

Eighty percent of the vineyard is made up of sandy gravel, the remaining 20% being deep earth that is a mixture of clay, limestone and gravel. The plots have a heterogenous soil on a subsoil that introduces numerous aromatic nuances. At the bottom of the slopes the presence of natural springs ensures perfect drainage of the vineyard and prevents the stagnation of humidity.

Every autumn a microscopic fungus called le «Botrytis Cinerea» appears and transforms the grapes. This is the famous 'noble rot' that is Nature's gift to Chateau Guiraud. In autumn the grapes take on a dark colour which can even seem austere, but this 'noble rot' is a precursor of aromatic expression. Understanding this phenomenon is essential as only the grapes that have been perfectly concentrated by the Botrytis will be picked one by one.