Château Bel Air Gloria

Identity

Château Bel Air Gloria is situated in Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, in the Gironde department. It is owned by the Triaud family, descendants of Henri Martin. The Martin-Triaud family also owns other winegrowing estates in the region, including Château Saint-Pierre and Château Gloria.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Bel Air Gloria is closely tied to that of Henri Martin. He acquired Château Bel Air in the early 1980s, which later became Château Bel Air Gloria. Previously, Henri Martin had established Château Gloria by purchasing parcels formerly belonging to classified growths in Saint-Julien. Today, the Martin-Triaud family is represented by Françoise, daughter of Henri Martin, her husband Jean-Louis Triaud, and their children Vanessa and Jean Triaud.

Another iconic estate of the family is Château Saint-Pierre. It was renamed in the 1760s by Baron Jean-Baptiste de Saint-Pierre. In 1824, its production was around 70 tonneaux. Château Saint-Pierre was acquired by Henri Martin, and in 1982, the estate was reunited, bringing together the vineyard, winery, and château.

The appellations

Château Bel Air Gloria produces wines in the Haut-Médoc appellation. The Martin-Triaud family estates also craft wines in the Saint-Julien appellation, notably for Château Saint-Pierre and Château Gloria.

Winemaking and ageing

For Château Saint-Pierre, vinification follows traditional methods. Ageing takes place in barrels over a period of 14 to 16 months. The annual production of Château Saint-Pierre is around 80,000 bottles.

Practical information

The estate's offices are located at 2-4 rue Marie Amélie, 33250 Saint-Julien Beychevelle.

For any enquiries or requests, the estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 56 59 08 18 or by email at contact@domaines-henri-martin.com.

For Château Saint-Pierre specifically, the address is 3 Grand Rue, 33250 Saint-Julien Beychevelle. The dedicated email address is contact@chateau-saint-pierre.com.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Martin-Triaud family's estates cover a total surface area of 100 hectares. Château Saint-Pierre, one of the properties managed by the family, covers 17 hectares. The soil at Château Saint-Pierre features Günzian gravel layers overlying beds of clay and sand. The average age of the vines at Château Saint-Pierre is around 60 years. The grape varieties planted at Château Saint-Pierre consist of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Harvesting is carried out by hand with parcel-by-parcel selection.

Signature cuvées

The Martin-Triaud family crafts several cuvées, including Château Saint-Pierre, Château Gloria, and Château Bel Air Gloria. Château Saint-Pierre is a 4ème Grand Cru Classé of 1855. The cuvées Esprit de Saint-Pierre and Esprit de Gloria are also produced.