Château de Sours

Identity

Château de Sours is a winegrowing estate located in Saint-Quentin-de-Baron, in the Gironde. It has been owned by Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, since 2015. Sébastien Jacquey serves as its managing director.

History and Philosophy

The history of the Sours estate dates back to at least the 15th century, with its earliest documented mention in the late 16th century. The current building dates from the 18th century. Wine production has been attested since the late 18th century. At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, the estate underwent a period of expansion.

Château de Sours was acquired by Jack Ma in 2015 (or 2016 depending on the source), succeeding Martin Krajewski, who had owned the property since 2004. Under this new leadership, the estate undertook a comprehensive modernisation of its facilities, culminating in the commissioning of a new cellar in 2022. Château de Sours is committed to organic conversion, with full certification expected for 2026. Viticulture at the estate follows agroecological principles.

Appellations

Château de Sours produces wines under the Bordeaux appellation, across red, white and rosé styles.

Winemaking and Ageing

The estate inaugurated a new cellar in 2022, equipped with state-of-the-art optical sorting technology. Ageing methods incorporate oak barrels, large oak casks (foudres) and amphorae. For Quarry White, ageing takes place in 40% new oak, with the remainder in vats. Part of the ageing takes place in traditional Bordeaux barriques, occasionally using new oak. Bottling and packaging are handled entirely on-site.

Practical Information

Château de Sours is located at 5 Au Vigneau, 33750 Saint-Quentin-de-Baron. Visits and tastings are available upon request and by prior appointment only. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 5 57 24 10 81 or by email at info@chateaudesours.com or clarisse.naulet@chateaudesours.com.

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The estate covers a total area of over 200 hectares, with 60 hectares dedicated to vines. The vineyard features clay-limestone soils for the red grape varieties. For the whites, plots are located on shallow, predominantly clay soils interspersed with silt and clay, benefiting from a cool, oceanic climate with north and north-easterly exposures. This diverse terroir enables precise parcel selection into specialised micro-terroirs. Vineyard management includes massal selection, and the harvest is carried out entirely by hand.

The grape varieties planted are dominated by Merlot for the reds and Sauvignon Blanc for the whites. The estate works in close collaboration with renowned specialists such as Marc Birebent for grafting, Simonit&Sirch for pruning, and nurseryman Lilian Berillon.

Flagship Cuvées

Château de Sours offers a range of wines structured around several collections, notably the ‘Quarry Collection’ and the ‘Essences Collection’. The ‘Quarry Collection’ includes a red wine (Quarry Red), a white wine (Quarry White) and a sparkling Blanc de Noir. Quarry Red is noted for its delicacy, Quarry White offers balance and freshness, while the sparkling Quarry Blanc de Noir is distinguished by its lightness. The 2022 blend for Quarry White comprises 83% Sauvignon Blanc and 17% Sémillon.

The estate is also renowned for its sparkling rosé, regarded as one of its signature cuvées. A red wine from the Quarry range, 2020 vintage, is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. A white wine from the same range, 2021 vintage, is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.