What is the official classification of Château Calon-Ségur?

Château Calon-Ségur is classified as a Troisième Cru Classé, a ranking established in 1855 for Bordeaux wines. This distinction reflects the quality and prestige of this historic wine estate located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, serving as an important benchmark for fine Bordeaux wine enthusiasts.

Who is the current owner of Château Calon-Ségur?

Château Calon-Ségur is owned by Terroirs de Suravenir, a subsidiary of the Arkéa banking group, following its acquisition in 2012. Since then, substantial investments have been made to modernise facilities, including the renovation of the chartreuse and the construction of a new vat room and barrel cellar.

What is the grape variety composition of the Château Calon-Ségur vineyard?

The vineyard of Château Calon-Ségur spans 50 hectares and is planted with 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The vines, with an average age of 22 years, grow on deep gravel soils over a clay bedrock, topped with lacustrine clay.

What are the vinification and ageing methods at Château Calon-Ségur?

Vinification of the grand vin, Château Calon-Ségur, takes place in 75 temperature-controlled, truncated cone stainless steel vats, with a maceration period of 18 to 21 days. The wine is then aged for 18 to 20 months in 100% new oak barrels. Traditional fining is carried out using egg whites. Harvesting is done entirely by hand, with rigorous grape sorting prior to fermentation.

Château Calon-Ségur, 3e Cru Classé in Saint-Estèphe

Château Calon-Ségur

Updated on 2 August 2026

Château Calon-Ségur, a 3e Cru Classé 1855 in Saint-Estèphe, has been owned by Suravenir since 2012. Covering 50 hectares of vines and certified HVE, the estate produces barrel-aged wines under the Saint-Estèphe appellation.

Château Calon-Ségur — photo principale — © Château Calon-Ségur

Identity

Château Calon-Ségur is an estate located in the commune of Saint-Estèphe, in Gironde. It was classified as a Troisième Cru Classé in 1855. The property has been owned by Terroirs de Suravenir, a subsidiary of the Arkéa banking group, since its acquisition in 2012.

Management is led by Laurent Dufau, alongside Vincent Millet as technical director. Philippe Curaudeau serves as cellar master and Éric Boissenot acts as consultant oenologist.

History and Philosophy

Wine production on this site dates back to the 12th century. The estate was acquired in 1894 by the Capbern-Gasqueton family, who retained it for several generations. Following the passing of Denise Gasqueton in 2011, the property was purchased in 2012 by Suravenir Assurances.

Following this takeover, substantial investments were undertaken, notably the renovation of the chartreuse along with the construction of a new vat room and barrel cellar. This modernisation programme upgraded the estate's facilities. The property is certified HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale).

Appellations

The estate's wines are produced under the Saint-Estèphe appellation for Château Calon-Ségur, and equally under the Saint-Estèphe appellation for Château Capbern.

Practical Information

Château Calon-Ségur is located at Domaine de Calon, 33180 Saint-Estèphe. Contact can be made by telephone on 05 56 59 30 08 or by email at calon-segur@calon-segur.fr.

Estate visits are exceptional and strictly by prior appointment only. There is no cellar-door sales nor mail-order sales. The property does not offer dining or accommodation.

Find out more

Official estate website

Frequently asked questions

What is the official classification of Château Calon-Ségur?: Château Calon-Ségur is classified as a Troisième Cru Classé, a ranking established in 1855 for Bordeaux wines. This distinction reflects the quality and prestige of this historic wine estate located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, serving as an important benchmark for fine Bordeaux wine enthusiasts.
Who is the current owner of Château Calon-Ségur?: Château Calon-Ségur is owned by Terroirs de Suravenir, a subsidiary of the Arkéa banking group, following its acquisition in 2012. Since then, substantial investments have been made to modernise facilities, including the renovation of the chartreuse and the construction of a new vat room and barrel cellar.
What is the grape variety composition of the Château Calon-Ségur vineyard?: The vineyard of Château Calon-Ségur spans 50 hectares and is planted with 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The vines, with an average age of 22 years, grow on deep gravel soils over a clay bedrock, topped with lacustrine clay.
What are the vinification and ageing methods at Château Calon-Ségur?: Vinification of the grand vin, Château Calon-Ségur, takes place in 75 temperature-controlled, truncated cone stainless steel vats, with a maceration period of 18 to 21 days. The wine is then aged for 18 to 20 months in 100% new oak barrels. Traditional fining is carried out using egg whites. Harvesting is done entirely by hand, with rigorous grape sorting prior to fermentation.

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vineyard of Château Calon-Ségur covers a planted area of 50 hectares out of a total estate size of 55 hectares. The vines have an average age of 22 years, with a planting density of 8,000 vines per hectare, pruned in double Guyot. The estate targets a yield of 45 hectolitres per hectare. Massal selections include Merlot planted in 1942, Petit Verdot from 1936, and Cabernet dating back to the 1960s. The vineyard is georeferenced, enabling precise monitoring of individual vines.

The soils feature a thick layer of Quaternary gravel deposited by the river, resting on a predominantly clay bedrock dating from the Tertiary period. A thin layer of lacustrine clay also lies atop the gravel deposits, alongside dedicated clay parcels. The grape varieties planted comprise 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot.

Sister property Château Capbern features a planted vineyard area of 33 hectares across a total of 38 hectares. Its vines average 17 years of age, with a planting density of 8,000 vines per hectare and double Guyot pruning. The target yield is likewise 45 hectolitres per hectare. The soils across this vineyard are sandy-gravel, clay-gravel, and limestone. Château Capbern's grape variety mix consists of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. Éric Boissenot also serves as consultant oenologist for Château Capbern.

Flagship Cuvées

Château Calon-Ségur is the estate's grand vin. Harvesting is carried out by hand with initial sorting in the vineyard, followed by a vibrating destemmer and manual sorting tables. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled, truncated cone stainless steel vats, with maceration lasting 18 to 21 days. Ageing lasts 18 to 20 months in 100% new oak barrels, and fining is carried out using egg whites. Average annual production is approximately 80,000 bottles. The proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend has been steadily increasing, while Merlot has decreased.

Château Capbern is another cuvée from the estate. Grapes are hand-harvested with an initial vineyard check, a vibrating destemmer, and manual sorting tables. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled cylindrical stainless steel vats, with maceration lasting 18 to 21 days and twice-daily pump-overs. Fermentation is conducted at 26°C. Malolactic fermentation occurs spontaneously using indigenous lactic acid bacteria in stainless steel vats at 20°C. Ageing lasts 18 months, with 60% new oak barrels. Fining is likewise carried out with egg whites. Average annual production is approximately 65,000 bottles.

Vinification and Ageing

The estate is equipped with 75 vats for vinification. For Château Calon-Ségur, maceration lasts between 18 and 21 days. Ageing spans 18 to 20 months in barrels, all 100% new oak. Fining is carried out with egg whites.

For Château Capbern, maceration also lasts 18 to 21 days, with two pump-overs per day. Fermentation is kept at 26°C. Malolactic fermentation is spontaneous in stainless steel vats at 20°C. Ageing lasts 18 months, with 60% new barrels. Fining is also completed with egg whites.