Château du Payre

Identity

Château du Payre is a family-owned winegrowing estate located in Cardan, in Gironde. It is owned by Valérie Marcuzzi Labrousse, representing the fifth generation of women at the helm of the property. The estate is operated by SCEA Vignobles Arnaud et Marcuzzi and employs five permanent staff members.

History and Philosophy

The history of Château du Payre began in 1881 with the acquisition of Domaine du Vic by Monsieur Roussereau and Mademoiselle Marie Dumas. From 1881 onwards, the tradition of passing the estate from mother to daughter was established. In 1895, the vineyard expanded by 3.5 hectares. The Domaine du Vic trademark was registered in 1942, and the first bottled white wine sales began in 1954. Château du Payre, as it is known today, was founded in 1960. Valérie Marcuzzi Labrousse took over the management of the estate in 1993.

Château du Payre is committed to environmentally friendly practices. The estate has been Terra Vitis certified since 2008, recognising sustainable and integrated viticulture. In 2018, it obtained Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) Level 3 certification. Conversion to organic farming began in 2020, culminating in full certification for the entire vineyard in 2023.

Château du Payre has also developed its wine tourism offering, earning several Best of Wine Tourism awards in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022, as well as a Best of d'Or in 2015.

Appellations

Château du Payre crafts wines under several appellations, notably Cadillac, Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, and Crémant de Bordeaux. Historically, the estate has also produced wines under the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux appellation.

Practical Information

Château du Payre is located at 13, Le Vic, 33410 Cardan. The estate can be reached by telephone on +33 5 56 62 60 91 or by email at chateaudupayre@gmail.com. The tasting cellar is open by appointment 7 days a week. Tastings and cellar tours are available, including for groups of 9 to 50 people. The estate accepts credit and debit cards, cheques, and cash. Pets are welcome. Amenities include motorhome facilities, an on-site and online shop, drive-through/click-and-collect, delivery services, and Wi-Fi. The property is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities (hearing, mental, motor, and visual impairments). Spoken languages are French, English, and Spanish.

Château du Payre also offers three guest rooms on-site, each named after a grape variety: Merlot, Muscadelle, and Sauvignon/Sémillon.

Find Out More

Official Estate Website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vineyard of Château du Payre covers 35 hectares, situated mainly in the commune of Cardan, as well as in the commune of Rions. The soils consist of clay-gravel, clay-sand, and clay-loam profiles. The oceanic climate features mild winters, moderately warm and relatively humid summers, alongside morning autumn mists that favour the development of Botrytis cinerea.

The estate's grape varieties for red wines are 66% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Malbec. The white grape varieties comprise 75% Sémillon, 17% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Muscadelle, and 3% Sauvignon Gris. In 2006, the estate expanded its cellar by 900 m².

Signature Cuvées

Château du Payre offers a diverse range of wines, including reds, whites, rosés, and sparkling wines. Key cuvées include:

• La Croix du Payre: A white wine, predominantly crafted from Sémillon.
• La Perle du Payre Cuvée Prestige: A wine made from 60% Merlot complemented by equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in new oak barrels for twelve months, showing distinct toasty and oak notes.
• L'Essentiel du Château du Payre: Another flagship cuvée of the estate.
• Château du Payre Cuvée réservée: Aged in oak barrels for thirteen months.
• DOMAINE DU VIC: A still white wine, 100% Sémillon, produced under the Cadillac appellation.

Vinification and Ageing

The wines of Château du Payre are crafted using methods that can include ageing in vats and oak barrels. Certain cuvées, such as La Perle du Payre Cuvée Prestige, undergo twelve months of ageing in new oak barrels. The Château du Payre Cuvée réservée is also barrel-aged for thirteen months.