Château de Callac
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Château de Callac, located in Illats in the Graves region, is a 39-hectare winegrowing estate producing red and white wines under the AOC Graves appellation. Managed by Matthieu Gufflet, the vineyard holds HVE3 certification.
Identity
Château de Callac is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Illats, in Gironde. It is managed by Matthieu Gufflet. The Rivière family (Maison Rivière) is also recorded as owner.
History and philosophy
The initial construction of the château dates back to the 14th century, with expansions in the 15th and 16th centuries, followed by remodelling in the 17th century. The main residence dates from 1773. Over the course of its history, Château de Callac has served various purposes, including acting as a refuge for the Chouans in 1795 and a rallying point for French paratroopers during the Second World War. Notable past owners include the Callac, Tiercent, and Le Forestier families. In 1645, the barony was established by Louis XIV in favour of Sieur Rogier. In 1670, Amador du Guémadeuc, Governor of Ploërmel, owned the property. Julie-Eleonore de Marbeuf was also linked to the estate's history through her marriage to the Count of Marbeuf, Governor of Corsica. Formerly a mixed farm producing grain and wine, the estate changed hands in 2008 with the arrival of Matthieu Gufflet. The first kosher wine productions date back to 1997. Restoration of the East wing has been underway for over 20 years, and a renovation of the stone building was completed in 2021.
Château de Callac holds Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE3) certification.
The appellations
The estate produces red and white wines under the AOC Graves appellation, as well as wines classified as Vin de France.
Practical information
Château de Callac is located at 2, Le Callac, 33720 Illats. It is easily accessible and directly visible from the local road. The estate offers bespoke winery tours and tastings by appointment only. Visitors can taste 2 wines for €10 per person (Prestige or Tradition range) or 4 wines (Prestige, Tradition, and Grande Lande). The estate also features 7 guest rooms and suites, accommodating up to 14 people. Event hire services are available, including exclusive use of the reception areas (400 m²) and a fully equipped meeting room for seminars. The château also takes part in the European Heritage Days, offering free public admission. The grounds surrounding the château are accessible year-round for walking trails.
Contact for tours and wine tourism: eugenie.letanneur@terresdenatures.com
Contact for sales: vignobles@terresdenatures.com
Telephone: 06 07 43 68 48
Find out more
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Château de Callac located?
- Château de Callac is located in the commune of Illats, in Gironde. Its vineyard extends across the Bel Air plateau, close to Cérons and Barsac.
- Which appellations are produced by Château de Callac?
- Château de Callac produces red and white wines under the Graves appellation d'origine contrôlée. The estate also offers a cuvée classified as Vin de France.
- What is the vineyard size and grape variety breakdown at Château de Callac?
- The Château de Callac vineyard covers 39 hectares. For red wines, the grape varieties are 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet franc. For whites, plantings comprise 50% Sémillon and 50% Sauvignon.
- What wine tourism services are offered at Château de Callac?
- Château de Callac offers winery tours and tastings by appointment, including tastings of 2 or 4 wines. The estate features 7 guest rooms for accommodation and offers private venue hire for corporate or private events.
The vineyard (terroir)
The Château de Callac vineyard covers 39 hectares. It is situated on the Bel Air plateau, on one of the highest points of the commune of Illats, close to Cérons and Barsac. The soils are clay-limestone with classic gravels. The vineyard is planted with 25 hectares of red grape varieties and 5 hectares of white grape varieties.
Red grape varieties
- Merlot: 70%
- Cabernet Sauvignon: 20%
- Cabernet franc: 10%
The average age of the red vines is 15 years.
White grape varieties
- Sémillon: 50%
- Sauvignon: 50%
The average age of the white vines is 10 years.
Flagship cuvées
Château de Callac offers several cuvées, notably in the Graves appellation with the “Tradition” and “Prestige” bottlings. The estate also produces a “Grande Lande” cuvée in Vin de France.
The wines of Château de Callac are characterised by a fruity, highly expressive aromatic profile, combining finesse and elegance. The Prestige cuvée benefits from extended ageing in oak barrels. For the Grande Lande cuvée, ageing takes place in 500-litre oak casks (foudres) and amphorae.
Vinification and ageing
Harvesting is carried out mechanically and manually for the red grape varieties, and entirely by hand for the white varieties. Maceration lasts 12 days for the red wines. The reds are aged for 12 months prior to release, and the whites for 6 months.
- Appellations
- Graves, Vin de France
- Commune
- Plumelec
- Wine region
- Graves & Sauternais
- Owner
- Matthieu Gufflet
- Surface area
- 30 ha
- Certifications
- HVE
- Grape varieties
- Merlot 70%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, Cabernet franc 10%, Sémillon 50%, Sauvignon 50%
Estate news
WINERIES
L'article présente un aperçu détaillé de Maison Rivière, une entreprise familiale bordelaise fondée en 1875, reconnue pour sa production continue de vins casher depuis 1997. Basée à Saint-Émilion, la famille Rivière gère six châteaux, représentant 90 hectares de vignobles sur Saint-Émilion Grand Cru et les appellations voisines. Ils opèrent à la fois comme producteurs et négociants, garantissant une cohérence rare dans la région. La production casher de Maison Rivière a débuté en 1997 au Château de Callac, situé dans l'appellation Graves, avec l'objectif de rendre leurs vins accessibles à tous. En 2002, ils ont introduit leur premier Saint-Émilion casher, et la production est devenue annuelle depuis 2005, s'étendant à des appellations telles que Lussac-Saint-Émilion, Médoc, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur, Pomerol, Lalande de Pomerol et Saint-Estèphe. Le domaine Clos des Menuts, cœur historique du portefeuille de Maison Rivière, produit un Saint-Émilion Grand Cru classique et bénéficie de chais monolithiques historiques. Stéphane Derenoncourt y collabore depuis 2007. L'entreprise est également devenue consultante pour d'autres châteaux, aidant à l'intégration de la production casher. L'article souligne l'engagement à long terme et la qualité des vins casher de Maison Rivière, les positionnant pleinement dans la tradition bordelaise.
Read the source — kosherwine.comPractical information
- Address
- 2, Le Callac, 33720 Plumelec
- Phone
- 06 07 43 68 48
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Visits
- Uniquement sur réservation