Château Fonroque

Identity

Château Fonroque is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Émilion. It is currently owned by the Guillard family, who acquired it in 2017. General management is overseen by Judith Barat, with Ludovic Guibert serving as technical director.

History and philosophy

The Moueix family acquired Château Fonroque in 1931. Following the death of Jean-Antoine Moueix in 1979, the estate was taken over by Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix. Alain Moueix took the helm in 2001, ushering in a significant modernisation of the vineyard, including a full review of viticultural practices, vine replanting, a new drainage system, and systematic crop-thinning. It was also under his leadership that the estate embarked on its transition to biodynamics in the early 2000s. Organic practices began in 2006, and biodynamic certification was achieved in 2008.

In 2017, Château Fonroque was sold to Hubert Guillard and his family. Under this new impetus, the estate continues its commitment to environmentally responsible viticulture, holding certifications in organic farming, biodynamics (Biodyvin), and Haute Valeur Environnementale. A new vat room, designed by architect François Bureau, was commissioned for the 2021 vintage, expanding vinification capacity with 27 concrete vats compared to 13 previously. The estate is also developing a wine tourism offering featuring immersive experiences and on-site accommodation.

Appellations

Château Fonroque produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé appellation. The estate is a Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion.

Flagship wines

The estate's principal cuvée is Château Fonroque Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion. The wines are distinguished by their strong expression of the limestone and clay-limestone terroir. The estate also produces a second wine named Château Cartier.

Practical information

Château Fonroque is located in 33330 Saint-Émilion. The estate can be reached by telephone on 05 57 24 60 02 or 06 80 72 58 61. The contact email address is info@chateaufonroque.com.

The estate offers tours by appointment from Monday to Friday, lasting approximately one hour. The tasting room and boutique are open daily, morning and afternoon. Tastings are available. Château Fonroque also provides amenities including pet-friendly access, on-site parking, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and international shipping. Payments can be made by card, cash, or cheque. The estate offers guest accommodation, direct cellar-door sales, and mail-order purchasing. English is spoken to welcome international visitors.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Fonroque covers a planted area of around 17.5 to 17.6 hectares in a single continuous parcel, out of a total surface area of approximately 22 hectares. It is located a few hundred metres north-west of the village of Saint-Émilion. The plots are situated on the plateau and the west-facing slope. The terroir is characterised by limestone soils on the plateau and clay-limestone on the hillsides. At the foot of the slope, the soils are more clay-rich, featuring silt, sand, and iron pan (crasse de fer). The average age of the vines is 35 years. Viticultural practices include leaf stripping and grass cover cropping between vine rows. The harvest is carried out by hand.

The grape varieties planted are predominantly Merlot, accounting for around 76% to 88% of the surface area, complemented by Cabernet Franc, which makes up roughly 12% to 24%.

Vinification and ageing

The estate introduced a new vat room for the 2021 vintage, allowing for more precise vinification thanks to an increased number of vats. The 2025 vintage will be partly vinified using whole bunches. For the ageing of the grand vin, a significant proportion is matured in oak barrels, with a percentage of new oak and the remainder in one-wine barrels and older.