Château Guiraud

Château Guiraud - A Premier Cru Classé with a pioneering spirit

Location & classification: Château Guiraud is located in the commune of Sauternes, in the heart of the famous Bordeaux wine-growing region. In the historic Bordeaux classification of 1855, the estate was categorised as "Premier Cru Classé" (First Growth), a distinction that underpins its outstanding status to this day.

History:The exact founding of the estate is unclear, but its history can be traced back to the 18th century. In 1766, Bordeaux wine merchant Pierre Guiraud acquired the estate, then known as "Maison Noble du Blaye", which henceforth bore his name . Just three generations later, in 1855, the estate was declared a Premier Grand Cru Classé . The estate changed hands several times in the 20th century until it was acquired by a group of investors in 1981.

Winemaking & style:The Grand Vin from Château Guiraud is characterised by an unusually high grape variety of 35% Sauvignon Blanc, supplemented by 65% Sémillon . This combination gives the wine a characteristic freshness and elegance. The hand-picked, noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) grapes are gently pressed. The wine is aged for 18 to 24 months in new French barrique barrels, which gives the wine its complexity and fullness . In addition to the main wine, the estate produces the second wine "Petit Guiraud" and the dry white wine "G de Guiraud".

Sustainability & biodiversity:Château Guiraud is a true pioneer when it comes to sustainability. The winery has been committed to organic and biodynamic cultivation since 1996. In 2011, it was the first classified winery in Bordeaux to receive official French organic certification (Agriculture Biologique - AB). This philosophy has led to impressive biodiversity: over 630 different insect species have been counted on the 100 hectares of vines .

Current ownership & management:After a chequered ownership history, the French entrepreneur Matthieu Gufflet became the majority shareholder of Château Guiraud in 2021. Since 2022, the operational management has been in the hands of Sandrine Garbay, an extremely experienced cellar master.