Which appellations are produced by Château Chantegrive?

Château Chantegrive produces wines under two main Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée: Graves and Cérons. The estate offers red wines, dry white wines, and a sweet wine.

Who are the current owners of Château Chantegrive?

Château Chantegrive is a family-owned estate. It is currently managed by Marie-Hélène Lévêque, daughter of founders Henri and Françoise Lévêque, alongside her mother and siblings. She took over the management of the property in 2006.

What is the vineyard surface area and soil type at Château Chantegrive?

The Château Chantegrive vineyard covers a total area of 112 hectares, with 92 hectares in production. The parcels dedicated to red wines predominantly feature gravel and pebbles on the surface over a clay-limestone subsoil, contributing to the quality and character of the wines.

What are the main grape varieties grown at Château Chantegrive?

For red wines, the main grape varieties are Merlot (52%), Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), and a small proportion of Petit Verdot (3%). For white wines, the varieties grown are Sauvignon Blanc (49%), Sémillon (46%), and Sauvignon Gris (5%). The estate also acquired parcels of old-vine Sémillon.

Château Chantegrive: History, Terroirs and Wines

Château Chantegrive

Updated on 10 August 2026

Château Chantegrive, an iconic family-owned winegrowing estate in Graves located in Podensac, is renowned for its red and white wines as well as a sweet Cérons. Certified HVE, it is managed by Marie-Hélène Lévêque.

Identity

Château Chantegrive is a winegrowing estate located in Podensac, in the Gironde. It is owned by the Lévêque family, with Marie-Hélène Lévêque serving as managing director. Arnaud Dubois holds the position of cellar master. The estate has benefited from the consultancy of oenologist Hubert de Boüard since 2006. It is also a member of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux.

History and Philosophy

Château Chantegrive was founded in 1966 by Henri and Françoise Lévêque. Originally, the vineyard spanned just two hectares. In 1985, the estate joined the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux. Marie-Hélène Lévêque joined the management team in 1990 and took over the property in 2006. The Lévêque family continues to manage the estate, with Marie-Hélène Lévêque as managing director alongside her mother Françoise Lévêque and her four siblings. In 2009, the Cuvée Henri Lévêque was created in tribute to the founder following his passing. The estate celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2016. Château Chantegrive is dedicated to an environmental approach, earning Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) Level 3 certification in 2017 and winning a Best Of Wine Tourism award in 2019 in the Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices category. In 2020, a 'Bird' wine range was launched and a nature reserve was established on the estate.

Appellations

Château Chantegrive produces wines under the Graves and Cérons Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée.

Practical Information

The estate is located at 44 cours Georges Clemenceau, 33720 Podensac. The tasting room and boutique are open from Monday to Saturday by appointment. On-site tastings are available. The estate welcomes groups (5 to 30 people) and pets. A 100 m² shop offers the château's wines and gift items. Spoken languages are French and English. Payments can be made by card or in cash.

Telephone: +33 5 56 27 17 38

Email: courrier@chateau-chantegrive.com

Find Out More

Official estate website

Frequently asked questions

Which appellations are produced by Château Chantegrive?: Château Chantegrive produces wines under two main Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée: Graves and Cérons. The estate offers red wines, dry white wines, and a sweet wine.
Who are the current owners of Château Chantegrive?: Château Chantegrive is a family-owned estate. It is currently managed by Marie-Hélène Lévêque, daughter of founders Henri and Françoise Lévêque, alongside her mother and siblings. She took over the management of the property in 2006.
What is the vineyard surface area and soil type at Château Chantegrive?: The Château Chantegrive vineyard covers a total area of 112 hectares, with 92 hectares in production. The parcels dedicated to red wines predominantly feature gravel and pebbles on the surface over a clay-limestone subsoil, contributing to the quality and character of the wines.
What are the main grape varieties grown at Château Chantegrive?: For red wines, the main grape varieties are Merlot (52%), Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), and a small proportion of Petit Verdot (3%). For white wines, the varieties grown are Sauvignon Blanc (49%), Sémillon (46%), and Sauvignon Gris (5%). The estate also acquired parcels of old-vine Sémillon.

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vineyard of Château Chantegrive covers 92 hectares in production, out of a total surface area of 112 hectares. The soils of the parcels dedicated to red wines consist of gravel and pebbles on the surface, resting on a limestone and clay subsoil. The average age of the vines is 26 years. The red grape varieties cultivated are Merlot (52%), Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), and Petit Verdot (3%). For white wines, the grape varieties comprise Sauvignon Blanc (49%), Sémillon (46%), and Sauvignon Gris (5%). Harvesting is carried out both by hand and mechanically. The estate also acquired an additional 14 hectares of old-vine Sémillon from Château Madères in Podensac.

Flagship Cuvées

Red Wines

Château de Chantegrive Rouge: This wine is crafted from a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is aged for 12 to 18 months in 225- to 300-litre French oak barrels.
Château de Chantegrive - cuvée Henri Lévêque: Created in 2009, this cuvée is also composed of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is aged for 18 months in new oak barrels.

White Wines

Château de Chantegrive Blanc: Made from 50% Sémillon and 50% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine is aged for six months on fine lees in stainless steel vats.
Château de Chantegrive - cuvée Caroline: Created in 1988, this cuvée comes from a blend of 50% Sémillon, 45% Sauvignon Blanc, and 5% Sauvignon Gris. It is vinified and aged in 225-litre oak barrels, with regular lees stirring (bâtonnage). The cellar dedicated to this cuvée was built in 1998 and can hold up to 300 barrels.

Sweet Wines

Château de Chantegrive Cérons: This sweet wine is made from 100% Sémillon. Its ageing extends over 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Annual production for this cuvée is around 3,500 bottles.

Rosé Wines

La Grive Rose: This rosé is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, crafted by direct pressing.

Vinification and Ageing

For red wines, ageing takes place over 12 to 18 months in French oak barrels. The classic white wines are aged for six months on fine lees in stainless steel vats. Cuvée Caroline undergoes fermentation and ageing in oak barrels, with regular stirring of the lees. Château de Chantegrive Cérons is aged for 24 months in new French oak barrels.