Château Escalette

Identity

Château Escalette is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Villeneuve, in Gironde. It is owned by the Richard family.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Escalette dates back to ancient times, with the earliest mention of a Seigneur d'Escalette in 1578. In the early 17th century, the de Sauvanel family owned the estate. Around 1697, Messire Isaac de Lescalette passed away and was buried in the church of Villeneuve. In 1725, Jean-Luc Dehalis styled himself “seigneur d'Escalette en Bourgeais”. In 1782, lightning struck and brought down one of the château’s towers. W. Franck’s wine treatise, published in 1824, noted a production of 30 to 40 tonneaux of wine for the estate. The Goize family held the property until the end of the 19th century.

In 1950, the Richard family acquired Château Escalette. A vineyard renovation was undertaken in 2013, alongside organic farming certification (ECOCERT).

Appellations

The plots of Château Escalette are situated in the Côtes de Bourg appellation. The wines produced also fall under the broader regional Bordeaux appellation.

Winemaking and ageing

Ageing of the wines at Château Escalette takes place in vats. The wines are best served at a temperature between 16°C and 17°C.

Practical information

Château Escalette is located at 59, Château Escalette, 33710 Villeneuve. You can contact the estate by telephone on +33 (0)5 57 42 64 00. Cellar-door tastings and sales are available, with visits by appointment.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

Château Escalette’s vineyard covers 9.4 hectares, complemented by 5 hectares of woodland, 3 hectares of meadows and 0.5 hectares of walnut trees. The soils are clay-limestone, resting on a stony subsoil with limestone bedrock roughly 50 cm below the surface. The estate is situated on the limestone plateau of Côtes-de-Bourg, on the Right Bank of the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, between the Blayais and the Libournais. The oceanic climate benefits from the Atlantic influence and the thermal buffering effect of the estuary. Viticulture follows organic farming practices, certified by ECOCERT since 2013. The vineyard features natural grass cover and green manure planted in every other row. The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (70%), complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.

Signature cuvées

Château Escalette produces still red wines. These wines offer a classic aromatic profile and balanced structure. The estate crafts around 64,000 bottles of its flagship cuvée. Since 2016, the wine has also held VEGAN certification.