Château de Sales
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Château de Sales, a family estate for nearly five centuries, is located in Libourne and produces wines in the Pomerol appellation. It is committed to agroecological practices and holds HVE certification.
Identity
Château de Sales is a winegrowing estate located in Libourne, in the Gironde département. The property is managed by Marine Treppoz, as President, and Vincent Montigaud, as Managing Director. Château de Sales has been a family-owned estate for nearly five centuries and is listed as a Historic Monument.
History and philosophy
The history of Château de Sales is defined by a long family tradition, with the property remaining in the hands of the same family for nearly five centuries. The estate's present-day boundaries are virtually identical to those of 1578, apart from three hectares lost during the French Revolution in 1789.
The estate’s philosophy is guided by environmentally respectful practices. Château de Sales is committed to an agroecological approach, incorporating agroforestry, cover crops and polyculture. Beehives were introduced in 2021, and around ten bat species as well as at least twenty bird species have been recorded across the estate, including the Black kite, European serin and European greenfinch. A protected plant species, the loose-flowered orchid (Anacamptis laxiflora), is also present.
The appellations
The plots of Château de Sales are located within the Pomerol appellation.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary appellation of the wines produced at Château de Sales and where is the estate located?
- Château de Sales is located in Libourne, in the Gironde département, and produces wines under the Pomerol appellation. The vineyard is situated specifically in the north-west of this prestigious appellation, benefiting from a terroir characterised by fine gravel and warm sand enriched with iron oxides. It is within this distinctive setting that the estate's wines are crafted.
- What are the characteristics of the terroir and grape varieties at Château de Sales?
- The terroir of Château de Sales consists of fine gravel and warm sand containing iron oxides. The vineyard spans 47.6 hectares. The grape variety plantings are predominantly Merlot (73%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (12%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). This blend of grape varieties is typical of the Pomerol appellation and contributes to the distinctive character of the wines produced at the estate.
- What environmental commitments has Château de Sales implemented?
- Château de Sales has been certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) since 2020 and embraces an agroecological approach. This includes agroforestry, cover crops and polyculture. The estate uses no chemical weedkillers and employs sexual confusion (pheromone disruption) to control grape moths. Permanent grass cover is maintained, and soils are enriched with a blend of cattle manure and grape stalk compost. Beehives have been installed, and significant biodiversity, including various bird and bat species, is surveyed and protected on the property.
- How does Château de Sales manage biodiversity across its estate?
- Château de Sales actively integrates biodiversity into its vineyard management. Alongside a 47.6-hectare vineyard, the estate encompasses more than 42 hectares of woods, a bamboo grove and parkland. Beehives were introduced in 2021, and numerous wildlife species—including around ten bat species and twenty bird species (such as the Black kite, European serin and European greenfinch)—have been recorded. A protected plant species, the loose-flowered orchid, is also present, reflecting the estate's dedication to preserving its natural ecosystem.
The vineyard (terroir)
The estate covers a total area of 90 hectares, 47.60 hectares of which are dedicated to vines. The terroir is characterised by soils of fine gravel and warm sand, containing iron oxides. The vineyard is situated in the north-west of the Pomerol appellation.
The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (73%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (12%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). Planting density is 5,900 vines per hectare.
Viticultural practices include zero chemical weedkillers and the use of sexual confusion (pheromone traps) to control grape moths. Permanent grass cover is maintained, either every other row or across every row, alongside cover crops such as faba beans. Soil enrichment relies on a blend of two-thirds cattle manure and one-third grape stalk compost, the latter introduced in 2021. The estate has held Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification since 2020. The estate's ecosystem is further enriched by woodland, a bamboo grove and parkland, spanning over 42 hectares.
Flagship cuvées
The wines of Château de Sales are crafted from a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2018 vintage, for instance, is regarded as a high-quality year and ranks among the property’s finest vintages.
- Appellation
- Pomerol
- Commune
- Libourne
- Wine region
- Libournais
- Owner
- Marine Treppoz
- Technical direction
- Vincent Montigaud
- Surface area
- 47.6 ha
- Certifications
- HVE
- Grape varieties
- Merlot 73%, Cabernet Franc 12%, Cabernet Sauvignon 15%
Practical information
- Address
- 11, CHEMIN DE SALES, 33500 LIBOURNE
- Phone
- +33(0)5.57.51.04.92
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Opening hours
- Du mardi au samedi, de 10h30 à 12h30 et de 14h à 17h30. Fermeture les dimanches et lundis.
- Visits
- Dégustation commentée de deux vins de la propriété. Durée 30 min. De 1 à 8 personnes.