Château d'Arche

Identity

Château d'Arche is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Sauternes. It was recognised as a Grand Cru Classé in 1855. Historically owned by the d’Arche family, it now belongs to Caroline and Nathalie Boël, daughters of Philippe Boël, who passed away in January 2024. The estate is managed by a team comprising Matthieu Arroyo as technical director, Solène Loutter heading marketing, communication, and hospitality, and Julie Naud-Raillard overseeing finance, administration, and human resources.

History and philosophy

The history of Château d'Arche began in 1611 with Étienne d’Arche, regarded as the family's viticultural pioneer. In 1733, François d’Arche acquired the cru of Braneyre and settled at Château d’Arche in 1753. In the 1855 Classification, the estate was distinguished as a 2ème Grand Cru among the classified white wines of Gironde, while under the ownership of Monsieur Lafaurie & Cie. Armand Bastit-Saint-Martin became the owner in 1925. In 1996, Château d’Arche was acquired by new owners, with the existing team continuing their work. The estate was a pioneer of wine tourism in Sauternes, opening a hotel in 2002. A modern, eco-certified cellar was built in 2019.

The estate began converting to organic viticulture in 2019, but brought the process to an end in 2024. It holds the environmental label « Bordeaux cultivons demain » and was awarded Best Of 2014 in the "Discovery and Innovation" category, followed by Best Of 2022 for its "Architecture and Landscapes". The estate experiments with robots, horses, and electric tractors in its vineyards, and has committed to training its pruning teams with Italian master pruners for the past three years. In 2022, one hectare of Floréal—a grape variety resistant to downy and powdery mildew—was planted, with a first harvest expected in 2024. The estate is also conducting trials in saffron cultivation.

Appellations

The parcels of Château d'Arche are located in the heart of the Sauternes commune. The estate produces wines under the AOC Sauternes, Bordeaux, and Graves appellations.

Practical information

Château d'Arche is located in 33210 Sauternes, France. The estate is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00. The telephone number is 05 56 76 67 67 and the email address is info@chateau-arche.com.

Tours and tastings are available in French and English. A one-hour paid tour and tasting includes an introduction to the château, a walk through the vineyards, a visit to the barrel cellar, and a tutored tasting of three wines. Tutored tastings are also available on site without prior booking. The estate welcomes groups from 8 to 100 people. Pets are not allowed.

Available services include an on-site and online shop, delivery options, and Wi-Fi. Payment can be made by payment cards, bank and postal cheques, cash, or bank transfer. The estate takes part in the Sauternes-Barsac Appellation Open Days (Journées Portes Ouvertes), which will be held on 14 and 15 November 2026, with no booking required.

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The vineyard (terroir)

The Château d'Arche vineyard extends over a planted area of 75 hectares out of a total of 90 hectares of winegrowing land. The soils are described as silty-gravelly, with the presence of calcaire à astéries at the highest points. The estate sits at an altitude of 65 metres. The proximity of the cold waters of the Ciron and the warmer Garonne generates morning mists, a vital feature of the Sauternes terroir. Average yields are approximately 2,000 bottles per hectare, well below the maximum limit of 3,333 bottles per hectare permitted for the Sauternes appellation. In 2023, 22 hectares were certified organic.

The grape variety blend for Château d'Arche's grand vin consists of 85% Sémillon and 15% Sauvignon. For the Arche Perlée cuvée, the blend is 50% Sauvignon and 50% Sémillon. The Floréal grape variety was also planted in 2022.

Flagship cuvées

Château d'Arche produces its grand vin under the AOC Sauternes, crafted primarily from Sémillon and Sauvignon. Harvesting is carried out by hand. The estate also offers « A de Château d’Arche », a dry white wine composed of 90% Sémillon and 10% Sauvignon Blanc. Another cuvée, Arche Perlée, is a Brut Blanc de Blancs made using the traditional method from 50% Sauvignon and 50% Sémillon. The dosage liqueur used is based on Château d’Arche Sauternes.

Vinification and ageing

Alcoholic fermentation takes place in vats. For the grand vin, ageing is carried out on fine lees, half in vats and half in oak barrels (20% new oak, 30% in one-wine Sauternes barrels). For the « A de Château d’Arche » cuvée, the ageing is described as "lightly oaked". Malolactic fermentation is partially carried out in barrels.