Château de Bonhoste

Identity

Château de Bonhoste is a winegrowing estate located in Saint-Jean-de-Blaignac. It has been owned by the Fournier family for five generations. Sylvaine and Yannick Fournier are the current owners, working alongside their parents, Colette and Bernard.

History and Philosophy

Château de Bonhoste is deeply rooted in a five-generation family history. The estate is committed to an environmentally conscious approach, employing traditional vine-growing methods and sustainable viticulture (lutte raisonnée). The property achieved Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification in 2013. The estate's underground cellars bear witness to a long heritage, dating back over 200 years.

The Appellations

Château de Bonhoste produces wines across several appellations, notably Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur, Crémant de Bordeaux, as well as Bergerac and Côtes de Bergerac, particularly under the Château La Moulière label. Red wines are crafted under the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation, dry whites under the Bordeaux appellation, and rosés under the Bordeaux Clairet appellation.

Practical Information

Château de Bonhoste is located at the following address: Vignobles FOURNIER Bonhoste, 256 Route de Bonhoste au Pin, 33420 Saint-Jean-de-Blaignac, France. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 5 57 84 12 18 or by email at contact@chateaudebonhoste.com.

The tasting room and shop are open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 19:00, and on Sundays from 10:00 to 12:00. Visits and tastings are available without an appointment. The estate offers a wide range of wine tourism experiences, including guided vineyard tours by golf buggy, visits to the historic underground cellars, food and wine pairing tastings, picnics, and a wine-themed escape game. Guests can also enjoy an unusual overnight stay in a converted wooden vat (foudre).

The château is a member of the France Passion network for motorhome stopovers and provides facilities such as Wi-Fi and parking. It holds the Tourisme & Handicap label for hearing, physical, and mental impairments. Guided tours are conducted in French, English, and Portuguese. Payments are accepted via credit/debit cards, cheques, and cash.

Find out more

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vineyard of Château de Bonhoste extends over 70 hectares. Viticulture is conducted using traditional techniques and sustainable farming practices, in harmony with the environment. The estate has held Haute Valeur Environnementale certification since 2013.

Flagship Cuvées

The estate offers a diverse collection of wines. Among the white wines, the Cuvée Prestige Blanc, made from 100% Sauvignon Gris, develops its aromatic profile following six months of ageing in oak barrels. The Cuvée Mille Blanc, also 100% Sauvignon Gris, is vinified and aged in amphorae for six months.

For the reds, the Cuvée Mille Rouge, a 100% Merlot, undergoes maceration with pump-overs and is aged in amphorae for five months, with production strictly limited to 1,000 bottles. Château de Bonhoste also produces Bordeaux Rouge, Bordeaux Supérieur, and the “Coup 2 foudres” cuvée in Bordeaux Supérieur, alongside a no-added-sulphite wine, “SO² Libre Bordeaux Rouge”. Crémant de Bordeaux, available in white and rosé (“B de Bonhoste”), rounds off the range.

Under the Château La Moulière label, the estate produces Bergerac Rouge, Bergerac Rouge Cuvée Prestige, and Côtes de Bergerac Blanc Moelleux.

Vinification and Ageing

Vinification techniques at Château de Bonhoste vary by cuvée. For the Cuvée Prestige Blanc, the grapes are harvested by hand, pressed, and undergo alcoholic fermentation in oak barrels for approximately two weeks. Ageing continues for six months in oak barrels on fine lees, accompanied by daily stirring (bâtonnage).

The Cuvée Mille Rouge is crafted through maceration with pump-overs during alcoholic fermentation, followed by five months of ageing in amphorae. The Cuvée Mille Blanc is likewise vinified and aged in amphorae after machine harvesting and pressing.