Château d'Aiguilhe

Identity

Château d'Aiguilhe is a winegrowing estate located in Saint-Philippe-d'Aiguilhe, in Gironde. It is owned by Stephan von Neipperg.

History and Philosophy

The origins of Château d'Aiguilhe date back to the Middle Ages, with a castle built in the 13th century. The estate was acquired by Stephan von Neipperg in late 1998. The estate is committed to environmentally friendly practices, as certified by its Haute Valeur Environnementale certification.

The Appellations

Château d'Aiguilhe produces wines under the Castillon - Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. The estate also crafts a cuvée in the Bordeaux Blanc AOC.

Practical Information

Château d'Aiguilhe is located at 1 Aiguilhe Sud, 33350 SAINT-PHILIPPE-D'AIGUILHE. The estate is open to the public year-round and offers tours focusing on history, architecture, biodiversity, and wine production. Family workshops and tastings are also available in the lounges or on the terrace. The individual tour price is €15 per person. The estate welcomes groups upon request for up to 12 people, and tours can be conducted in English. The site is accessible to persons with reduced mobility (PRM) and features parking and air conditioning. Cellar-door sales are available, starting from €20 per bottle, and international shipping is offered. Accepted payment methods include credit card, cash, and American Express.

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The estate covers a total area of 140 hectares, comprising vineyards, woodland, and meadows. Of this land, 90 hectares are dedicated to winegrowing. The vineyard is situated on a plateau with a predominantly southern exposure. The soils are clay-limestone and clay-silt. The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (80%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (20%). The average age of the vines is 28 years.

Key Cuvées

The estate produces Château d'Aiguilhe, a red wine whose blend is predominantly Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc. This wine is characterised by a balanced structure. The estate's second wine is named Seigneurs d'Aiguilhe, also in the Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux AOC. A white wine cuvée, Le Blanc d'Aiguilhe, crafted from Sauvignon Blanc, was introduced in 2015 under the Bordeaux Blanc appellation.

Vinification and Ageing

Harvesting is carried out by hand, with rigorous sorting before and after destemming, and grapes are fed into the vats by gravity. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled wooden and concrete vats, with vatting times ranging from 25 to 30 days (and up to 40 days depending on the vintage), including extraction by pneumatic punch-down (pigeage). Malolactic fermentation and ageing take place in barrels, with up to 50% new oak depending on the vintage and cuvée. Ageing lasts between 15 and 18 months on fine lees. Fining and filtration are carried out only if necessary.