Chateau de Fieuzal

The origins of Château de Fieuzal date back to the first stirrings of winemaking in Bordeaux’s Graves region. This Pessac-Léognan estate sits on one of the best gently sloping, gravel-outcrops in the area - long admired for its excellent drainage and heat diffusing properties. While Château de Fieuzal its known for producing some of the best white wines in Bordeaux, its reds are equally good, and in 1959 the estate was awarded the official status of Graves Grands Cru Classé.

Fieuzal is named after the family who owned the property up to 1851. The estate now covers some 75 hectares, 10 of which are used to grow white wine grapes. The current owners are Brenda and Lochlann Quinn, who hired talented young winemaker Stephen Carrier in 2007. Working closely together, they have introduced a rigorous and innovative winemaking style, and have broadened the estate’s reputation considerably. As well as hiring Carrier, the Quinns brought well-known Bordeaux winemaking consultant, Hubert de Bouärd, owner of Château Angélus, on board in 2006.

The vines at Château de Fieuzal have a current average age of 30 years, and are planted at a density of 9,000 plants per hectare. Chemical applications are kept to a bare minimum, traditional farming methods are used and grapes are picked and sorted – twice - by hand, all of which helps to preserve the purity of the fruit. Vines are managed on a plot by plot basis, essentially meaning that each undergoes tailored winemaking processes to avoid masking or muting their distinct flavours and aromas. Other developments at Fieuzal have included a restructuring of the vineyard and, in 2011, the inauguration of a new cellar, fully equipped with advanced winemaking facilities.